Joseph Oughourlian backs possible Ligue 1 TV rights tender

RC Lens president Joseph Oughourlian supports the Ligue de Football Professionnel’s plan to consider a new tender for Ligue 1 television rights. His position comes as the league prepares to start a season in which every match is exclusively available on the Ligue 1+ platform, giving the LFP room to assess a longer-term rights strategy.

Oughourlian believes extending the length of any future deal could increase the value of rights covering all 18 clubs and nine matches per round. He said the main risk would be a complete lack of interest, which would suggest that broadcasters no longer see Ligue 1 as a worthwhile product. Otherwise, he sees little reason not to test the market.

Speaking on Thursday evening on the sidelines of the Champions League draw, the Lens president also pointed to earlier mistakes in the league’s media strategy. He said the LFP mishandled Canal+, its historic partner, before choosing broadcasters that subsequently failed on two occasions.

Oughourlian argued that responsibility now rests with the league and its clubs to make Ligue 1 more attractive. That includes building a stronger channel around the competition, as the current model leaves them with no alternative but to improve the product themselves.