LFP Media may put Ligue 1+ back on the market

LFP Media is considering a new tender for Ligue 1 rights, a move that would put the future of Ligue 1+ under immediate scrutiny during only its second season. The league is examining the option because its projected subscriber growth is no longer expected to arrive on schedule.

Olivier Bramly, the new director-general of LFP Media, is understood to favour launching the process as early as October 2026, while the broader objective is to hold it before the end of that year. Nicolas de Tavernost had already raised the possibility before leaving his position. Any timetable would have to fit around the planned replacement of the LFP by a new club-owned company.

Ligue 1+ averaged 1.1 million subscribers during its first year, although membership fell over the summer. For the 18 top-flight clubs, the channel has become the only television income stream since beIN Sports left the arrangement, leaving roughly 78 million euros in rights revenue. Clubs are therefore relying on sales of players and financial backing from shareholders to manage weaker income.

The tender would test whether the market still wants the full Ligue 1 product. Disney+ and Paramount are possible digital contenders, while Canal+ and other established sports broadcasters could also enter. LFP Media could offer the existing channel together with its subscriber base. If the process fails, negotiations could proceed directly with selected broadcasters. The French Football Federation and the Sports Ministry may influence the timing, particularly ahead of the politically sensitive year 2027.