LFP CEO hails Chinese interest as Ligue 1 continues globalisation strategy.
Getty Images
The Ligue 1 fixture on 16th December between French top flight soccer clubs Olympique Lyonnais and AS Monaco has been scheduled to take place at 1pm in France in order to coincide with Asian primetime.
The initiative is part of Ligue 1’s international development plan, with the French Football Federation (FFF) and Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) having jointly opened an office in Beijing in 2017. The countries’ time difference means that the game will be broadcast live at 8pm in China.
In a statement, LFP chief executive Didier Quillot said: ‘This initiative demonstrates the growing interest of the Chinese public for the Ligue 1 Conforama, which benefits in China from an unparalleled exposure thanks to the broadcasting agreements signed with the CCTV and PPTV groups.’
The game between Lyon and Monaco will be the second to be held at the earlier time of 1pm in order to satisfy demand in Asia, following Nice’s clash with Paris Saint-Germain last season, which marked the earliest time that a Ligue 1 fixture had ever kicked off. That match was also broadcast in Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Singapore.
Be the first to comment