France’s top-flight football league is facing another broadcast cliffhanger, this time surrounding its ambitious new direct-to-consumer (DTC) platform.
With Ligue 1 aiming to become the first major European football league to fully own and operate its own streaming service, expectations were high for a distribution deal with a major partner. But those plans were dealt a significant blow this week, as Canal+, long-time broadcaster of French football, withdrew from negotiations.
The Failed Deal
The French Professional Football League (LFP) had entered discussions with Canal+ for a proposed co-distribution model: Canal+ would help distribute Ligue 1’s forthcoming streaming service and also retain the rights to broadcast a prime Sunday night match. However, there was a major gap between the two sides on valuation.
- LFP’s asking price: €200 million per year
- Canal+ offer: €100 million per year
Ultimately, Canal+ CEO Maxime Saada confirmed that the conditions were not favorable, and the broadcaster stepped away from the table — leaving the league without a distribution partner just weeks before kickoff.
Clock Is Ticking
With the 2025–26 Ligue 1 season set to begin on August 17, the LFP now has less than two months to strike a new deal. Rumored alternatives include Amazon Prime Video, Orange, and DAZN — the latter a surprising twist given the recent breakdown in relations.
A Year of Broadcast Uncertainty
This isn’t the first time Ligue 1 has approached a season without clarity around its broadcast future. In the lead-up to the 2024–25 campaign, the LFP struggled to meet its valuation goals, eventually settling on a €400 million-per-year package shared between DAZN and BeIN Sports.
However, tensions quickly emerged:
- DAZN accused the LFP of failing to address piracy issues and questioned editorial support.
- Payments were withheld, prompting legal action.
- A mediator was brought in, but the partnership collapsed.
DAZN walked away from the four-year agreement after just one season.
DAZN: Out, But Not Done?
Despite the acrimonious split, DAZN may still re-emerge as a potential DTC distribution partner. The platform has publicly signaled its interest in collaborating on Ligue 1’s streaming future — but only under different terms.
“We are ready to invest €100 million into this new model,” DAZN said in a statement, suggesting its willingness to support a DTC service — but stopping short of meeting the LFP’s €200 million demand.
At the time of writing, no formal negotiations have been confirmed between DAZN and the LFP. The league, meanwhile, continues its search for a solution that would allow it to control the delivery of all 306 Ligue 1 matches directly to fans.
Ligue 1 is entering uncharted territory. While the concept of a league-owned streaming platform offers long-term strategic benefits — data ownership, global fan engagement, and subscription revenue — the risks are significant:
- Commercial viability depends on the right distribution partner.
- Operational execution must be flawless in a short window.
- Stakeholder confidence, especially among clubs and sponsors, may weaken without a clear roadmap.
This is a bold pivot from a traditional media rights model toward vertical integration — but unless the LFP secures a robust partner soon, the ambition could backfire.
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IMAGE: Canal+
