The ongoing saga of Ligue 1‘s TV rights has taken another unexpected turn, leaving the future of broadcasting France’s top soccer league in doubt. The Professional Football League (LFP) had hoped to partner with Canal+ to distribute the new 100% Ligue 1 channel, but the network has pulled out of negotiations. Canal+ president Maxime Saada stated that
the conditions were not met.
Why Did Canal+ Bail?
Table of Contents
- Why Did Canal+ Bail?
- What’s the Plan Now?
- Where Can You Watch Ligue 1, and How Much Will It Cost?
- Key Players and Proposed Deals: A fast Glance
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- What is the current situation with Ligue 1’s TV rights?
- why did Canal+ withdraw from the negotiations?
- What are the potential implications of this situation for fans?
- Who are the potential broadcasters if not Canal+?
- What about the production of the matches?
- How much will it cost to watch Ligue 1 matches?
The appointment of nicolas de Tavernost as head of LFP Media,the League’s commercial arm,initially seemed promising to Canal+. The network, a long-time partner of French soccer, considered becoming the exclusive distributor of the Ligue 1 channel and co-broadcasting the coveted Sunday evening match. This is akin to ESPN perhaps partnering with a new minor league to broadcast games, only to back out at the last minute.
However, the €200 million asking price proved too steep for Canal+, which was only prepared to offer €100 million. This financial sticking point echoes the challenges faced by manny sports leagues in the U.S. when negotiating broadcast rights, where networks frequently enough balk at inflated prices. The network also hasn’t forgotten the financial hit it took when MediaPro withdrew from a previous deal, and the League refused to renegotiate with Canal+ when selling rights to Amazon.
Economist Pierre Rondeau argues that shunning Canal+ is a mistake:
By avoiding Canal+, we put aside an crucial player in French football, competent, experienced, and with a base of almost 9 million subscribers.We could have quickly surpassed DAZN and it’s 500,000 subscribers.
Rondeau believes the league could have quickly reached one million subscribers, and then two or three million.
Co-broadcasting the Sunday evening game with Canal+ could have boosted the visibility of Ligue 1,which has suffered in recent months. This is similar to how the NFL strategically places its marquee matchups on prime-time television to maximize viewership.
What’s the Plan Now?
The new platform, intended to broadcast eight of the nine matches each day (with BeIN Sports retaining rights to the ninth until the end of the 2025-2026 season), was slated to launch in early July. Now, the League may opt for non-exclusive distribution. Decisions are expected soon, as the championship resumes the weekend of August 16.
The new system is expected to be presented at a meeting with clubs.In addition to distribution,a decision must be made regarding production. Four potential areas are up for grabs: magazine production, pre- and post-game shows, multiplex management, and editorial personnel management.
Ideally, one entity will handle all aspects of production to streamline the championship’s presentation. Xavier Domergue is rumored to be a potential commentator, while remaining at M6.
two contenders are vying for the production contract: 21 Production (from L’Équipe) and Mediawan. 21 Production previously worked on Ligue 1 during Amazon’s tenure. Mediawan, led by Pierre-Antoine Capton, is a global audiovisual group that produces shows like “C magazines in the air” and “C l’Hebdo.”
The involvement of clubs,through their presidents and the LFP,should also help promote French soccer.
If there is an effort in premium content, consumers will agree to pay, provided that the clubs are making efforts to open their doors,
says Rondeau, echoing concerns DAZN has previously raised. this is similar to how the MLB Network benefits from access to players and behind-the-scenes content.
Where Can You Watch Ligue 1, and How Much Will It Cost?
No one wants to repeat DAZN’s mistakes. the British streaming service initially offered a subscription without a long-term commitment for nearly €40 per month, a strategic error that hampered its relationship with French soccer from the start. This is a cautionary tale for any sports league considering a streaming-only model.
According to multiple sources, access to eight games would cost €14.99 per month, and €9.99 for those under 26.
If in a year, we have 100% of L1, it seems affordable to me, especially when we compare with other countries,
says Pierre Rondeau.
However, this contradicts maxime Saada’s claims that the League rejected Canal+’s proposal of €15 per month (€10 for Canal+ subscribers), demanding €20 per month instead. LFP Media is reportedly exploring options with internet providers (Free, Orange, SFR) and streaming platforms like Prime Video and DAZN.
Key Players and Proposed Deals: A fast Glance
To better understand the complexities of the Ligue 1 broadcasting rights saga, here’s a breakdown of the key players and proposed financial figures.This table offers a snapshot of the key stakeholders and the amounts under discussion, clarifying the issues at stake for viewers and the league.
| Stakeholder | Role | Proposed Deal (approx.) | Outcome | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LFP (Ligue de Football Professionnel) | Organizing Body | Seeking €200 million from preferred distributor | negotiations failed with Canal+ | Facing uncertainty with broadcast and platform revenue. Needs to ensure the League’s revenues are adequate. |
| Canal+ | Potential distributor | Offered €100 million | Withdrawal from negotiations | Loses potential exclusive rights; faces opportunity cost of not carrying Ligue 1. |
| DAZN | Streaming Platform | N/A | Potentially involved, reported along with platforms like Prime video, and internet providers like Free, Orange, and SFR | Potential entry to distribute games. Likely aiming to avoid previous high-cost, low-return strategies. |
| Pierre Rondeau | economist | N/A | Comments are critical about the decisions made | Opinions on the deal and analysis of the deal’s potential drawbacks are shared. |
| 21 Production (L’Équipe) | Production company | Seeking for production contract | Contender for the production contract | Shows experiance working on a ligue 1 broadcast. |
| Mediawan | Production company | Seeking for production contract | Contender for the production contract | Experience with a global audiovisual group that produces well-regarded programming. |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Navigating the evolving landscape of Ligue 1 broadcasting can be confusing. Here are answers to some of the most common questions, designed to provide clarity for fans.
What is the current situation with Ligue 1’s TV rights?
The French professional soccer league, Ligue 1, is in a transitional phase regarding its television rights. While the LFP initially aimed for a deal with Canal+ to distribute the new 100% Ligue 1 channel, negotiations fell through due to disagreements over financial terms. The league is now assessing options,including platforms like internet providers,and streaming services like Prime Video and DAZN.
why did Canal+ withdraw from the negotiations?
Canal+ withdrew primarily because the LFP’s asking price-reportedly around €200 million-was too high.Canal+ countered with an offer of €100 million. This financial disagreement, combined with Canal+’s prior financial losses in soccer broadcasting, led to the breakdown in talks.
What are the potential implications of this situation for fans?
The immediate implication is uncertainty about where and how to watch Ligue 1 matches. While the league aims for a new distribution plan before the August 16th restart of the season, fans may face a choice of different platforms, subscription models, and pricing tiers. Also the quality of the broadcast may depend on the chosen vendor.
Who are the potential broadcasters if not Canal+?
The LFP is reportedly negotiating with several parties, including internet providers (Free, Orange, SFR), and also streaming platforms such as Prime Video and DAZN. The league is also considering a non-exclusive distribution model as an alternative.
What about the production of the matches?
The LFP must decide on the production of its magazines, the management of any pre- and post-game shows or its personnel.Potential contenders for the central production contract include 21 Production (from L’Équipe) and Mediawan.
How much will it cost to watch Ligue 1 matches?
While the final pricing is not set according to multiple sources, access to eight games would cost €14.99 per month, and €9.99 for those under 26. However, it is unclear if this is the final price.
