Dramatic twist on the TV rights market! While it was only planned for 2029, the new call for tenders for Ligue 1 could finally be brought forward to next year.
The Team reveals that the general director of LFP Media, Olivier Bramly, announced to the board of directors of the League his wish to bring forward the consultation of the various stakeholders for the period 2027-2032.
It must be said that the situation is critical. Despite the excellent work of the Ligue 1+ editorial teams to highlight the French championship, the money from subscriptions to the LFP channel does not satisfy the clubs. Alone “a few million euros per season” would fall into their coffers, says the sports daily. Finding a new broadcaster has therefore become vital.
Could Canal+ be the new savior of Ligue 1? At odds with the LFP for several years, to the point that it did not participate in the last call for tenders, the encrypted channel is in any case one of the media surveyed in recent months to take up the torch, just like RMC Sport and major digital platforms such as Netflix, Apple and Prime Video.
Canal+ to save Ligue 1?
The fact that LFP Media has recovered 100% of matches this season, following beIN Sports’ abandonment of the Saturday afternoon match, and that it can now market Ligue 1 in a single batch could attract one of these players. Either through the direct acquisition of championship rights, or through the distribution of the Ligue 1+ channel. Everything will depend on the price offered.
It also remains to be seen whether Canal+ will be able to bet on Ligue 1 in 2027. Its president, Maxime Saada, complained about the doubling of VAT for pay channels, from 10% to 20%, proposed by the government in its 2027 finance bill. This measure, if adopted, could force the group to reduce its investments in cinema and sport.
