Ligue 1 Rights Tender Opens as LFP Media Faces Uncertainty

Ligue 1 will open bidding for its domestic broadcast rights in November, marking a significant shift from the fragmented approach that has characterized the last six years. The league aims to sell the rights as a single bundle rather than splitting them among several broadcasters. This strategy is designed to make the package more attractive to major buyers and reduce the risk of the patchwork deals that have previously undermined the league's revenue streams.

The decision to move quickly stems from the expiration of a get-out clause in the current Ligue 1+ contracts, which expires in March 2027. LFP Media director general Olivier Bramly has spent the summer meeting with potential broadcasters, including Canal Plus, RMC Sport, Netflix, and Amazon Prime Video. He reported to the board on October 6, 2026, that he was encouraged by these discussions, noting that the new legal framework allows for a unified sale.

French football's television rights have been in a state of disarray since the collapse of the Mediapro deal in 2020. Amazon Prime Video stepped in to fill the void, but the arrangement damaged the league's long-standing relationship with Canal Plus. When Amazon's contract ended, DAZN took over but walked away after one year of a five-year deal, citing dissatisfaction with the terms and a failure to effectively tackle piracy, which had been eroding audience numbers.

In response to these challenges, the league launched its own streaming service, Ligue 1+, in the summer of 2025. This platform was intended to provide a stable revenue source, but it has faced significant hurdles. beIN Sports initially took one match per round but has since withdrawn. Each step in this turbulent period has resulted in less money for the clubs, who are now under heavy financial pressure and seeking a deal that restores lost value.

The new tender offers two main possibilities: exclusive broadcast of Ligue 1 matches between 2027 and 2032, or exclusive distribution of the Ligue 1+ platform over the same period. The LFP hopes that the ability to sell rights as a single lot will encourage digital giants to bid, as they had previously cited the risk of fragmented rights as a reason for hesitation. Apple, for instance, had advanced contacts with the league in 2023 but renounced due to fears of rights being scattered.

Financially, the stakes are high. The current revenue from broadcast rights is approximately 140 million euros to be shared among the clubs. However, the LFP Media platform costs the league approximately 60 million euros per year to operate. Additionally, the CVC fund holds a 13 percent stake in LFP Media, meaning a portion of the revenue generated by the platform must be shared with this investor, further complicating the financial picture for the clubs.

There is also legislative uncertainty affecting the market. A potential increase in VAT for pay-TV channels from 10 percent to 20 percent could influence the interest of traditional broadcasters like Canal Plus. Experts note that if the LFP's goal is to bring Canal Plus back into the fold, the timing of this tender may not be ideal, given the potential tax changes and the strained history between the parties.