PARIS – French football is grappling with a deepening crisis as the ambitious Ligue 1+ streaming platform faces significant headwinds, most recently losing out on securing broadcast rights for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The setback has triggered a wave of criticism and prompted the departure of a key executive, raising serious questions about the future of the platform and the direction of French football broadcasting. The situation has escalated to the point where even club presidents are openly questioning the strategic decisions that led to the creation of Ligue 1+, with Jean-Pierre Rivère, the president of OGC Nice, calling the platform a “strategic error.”
The initial launch of Ligue 1+ was hailed as a success, quickly surpassing one million subscribers. Still, growth has stalled, and the platform’s attempt to acquire the rights to broadcast all 104 matches of the 2026 World Cup ultimately failed, with beIN SPORTS ultimately securing the deal for both the 2026 and 2030 tournaments for a reported €60 million. This defeat proved to be the final straw for Nicolas de Tavernost, the director general of LFP Media, who announced his intention to resign just months after spearheading the launch of the Ligue 1+ platform.
“Ligue 1+ is a Strategic Error”
Rivère’s blunt assessment, delivered during an interview on the Nice Matin program Gym Tonic, has sent shockwaves through French football. He revealed that the Ligue Professionnelle de Football (LFP) had previously received a more lucrative offer from Amazon – approximately €400 million – but that the terms were deemed unsuitable. “When we went to negotiate with Amazon, and they told us ‘€400 million isn’t enough’… But you go to Amazon and share them you need the option to potentially exit after two years… A broadcaster can’t survive if they don’t have a minimum of five years,” Rivère explained. He estimated that a deal with Amazon could have yielded between €680 and €700 million.
Rivère also disclosed that discussions were held with Canal+, with the channel reportedly willing to re-enter the broadcasting landscape. While he didn’t specify whether Canal+ was interested in broadcasting or distributing the league, his comments suggest a willingness to explore alternative options. “Nicolas de Tavernost considered that this wasn’t the right solution,” Rivère stated. “He considered that Ligue 1+ was the right solution. You have club presidents who came forward to say that this channel was necessary, but today, we need to ask the right questions. We obviously support the channel, but today, we can see that the results aren’t there unfortunately. Ligue 1+ isn’t doomed, but I think we made a bad choice. It was obvious. It’s high time we return to sound practices.”
The situation highlights the complex and often fraught negotiations surrounding broadcasting rights in modern football. The LFP’s decision to launch Ligue 1+ was intended to give the league greater control over its broadcasting revenue and to create a more sustainable financial model. However, the failure to secure the World Cup rights and the subsequent criticism from club presidents suggest that the strategy may have backfired.
The loss of the World Cup rights to beIN SPORTS is particularly damaging. BeIN Sports has been a long-standing broadcaster of major football tournaments in France, including the World Cup and the UEFA European Championship since 2012. Their established infrastructure and subscriber base gave them a significant advantage in the bidding process. The €60 million offer, while lower than the potential Amazon deal, ultimately proved sufficient to convince FIFA to reconsider its initial agreement with LFP Media, which was valued around €20 million (including production costs).
The timing of these events is particularly concerning, as the current Ligue 1 season is nearing its conclusion in May, with the next season scheduled to begin in August. This leaves the LFP with limited time to address the issues surrounding Ligue 1+ and to secure a stable broadcasting future for the league. The uncertainty surrounding the platform’s future is likely to weigh heavily on clubs as they plan for the upcoming season.
The departure of Nicolas de Tavernost, who was appointed to lead LFP Media in April 2025, further complicates matters. His role was crucial in overseeing the launch and development of Ligue 1+, and his resignation leaves a significant void in the league’s leadership. The LFP will need to quickly appoint a successor who can navigate the challenges facing the platform and restore confidence among clubs and stakeholders.
The situation also raises questions about the broader strategy of the LFP and its relationship with broadcasters. The league’s decision to pursue a direct-to-consumer model with Ligue 1+ was a bold move, but it appears to have underestimated the challenges of competing with established players like beIN SPORTS and Canal+. The league may need to reconsider its approach and explore alternative partnerships to ensure the long-term financial health of French football.
For fans, the immediate impact is uncertainty surrounding access to the 2026 World Cup. While 54 matches will be broadcast on M6, the remaining games will be exclusively available on beIN SPORTS, requiring a subscription to the channel. This could potentially limit access for some fans and further fragment the broadcasting landscape.
The coming months will be critical for the future of Ligue 1+. The LFP will need to address the concerns of club presidents, identify a suitable replacement for Nicolas de Tavernost, and develop a sustainable business model for the platform. The stakes are high, and the future of French football broadcasting hangs in the balance.
The next key date for Ligue 1+ will be the start of the 2026-2027 season, where the platform will need to demonstrate its viability and attract a sufficient number of subscribers to justify its existence. Fans and stakeholders will be watching closely to see if Ligue 1+ can overcome its current challenges and deliver on its promise of a more sustainable and equitable broadcasting future for French football.
