Ligue 1 TV crisis: Why French clubs are pushing to axe Ligue 1 Plus early

Reaching the one-million subscriber milestone should have heralded a promising new chapter for French football, but in reality, it has exposed a bitter paradox. Behind that impressive growth lies a harsh truth: actual revenues are so low that clubs have been left financially crippled. By shouldering all operational risks rather than receiving guaranteed rights fees from traditional broadcasters, clubs have been pushed to the brink. Consequently, axing Ligue 1+ early is not just an inevitable retreat, but a vital survival tactic as the LFP desperately seeks a more stable escape route through traditional TV partners.

The Ligue 1+ gamble: When self-reliance becomes a heavy burden

The launch of Ligue 1+ in August 2025 was a desperate, stop-gap measure after a €500m-a-year TV rights deal with DAZN collapsed. To prevent a total blackout and save clubs from bankruptcy, the LFP was forced to run its own direct-to-consumer (DTC) platform.

Despite quickly hitting one million subscribers in its first month thanks to a low-price strategy, this DTC model inadvertently dumped all financial risk directly onto the LFP and its clubs. Actual revenue distributed to teams after massive operational costs was a mere pittance—just a few million euros per season. The crisis deepened when co-broadcaster beIN Sports decided to pull out from the 2026/27 season, turning this self-reliance gamble into an unbearable burden.

Early rights tender: The desperate search for a financial lifeline

Faced with this perilous situation, LFP Media's new Director General, Olivier Bramly, has mapped out a landmark rescue plan. Rather than waiting until 2029, LFP Media is proposing a new TV rights tender for the 2027-2032 cycle as early as November 2026. This strategic move aims to trigger an exit clause in March 2027 to shut down or offload Ligue 1+. Meanwhile, under crushing financial pressure, clubs are fiercely demanding a return to the traditional model of selling packages to established broadcasters like Canal+, RMC Sport, Netflix, or Amazon Prime Video. Securing a lifeline from the guaranteed, stable revenues of these media giants remains the only way to prevent a catastrophic domino effect of club bankruptcies.

The Verdict

Ultimately, while axing Ligue 1 Plus is a painful strategic retreat in terms of technological independence, it is the only viable option left to rescue French football's finances from the brink of collapse. It brings an end to a self-reliance gamble that was simply too heavy for clubs lacking the financial muscle to shoulder commercial risks. However, with the league's brand value severely damaged and broadcaster trust shattered by successive rights crises, will the media giants be willing to bail out Ligue 1 in the upcoming tender?