Canal+ eager to relaunch Ligue 1 TV rights from 2027

While Ligue 1 is facing a financial crisis where subscriptions cover only a few million euros per season, the television rights market is experiencing a reversal: the new tender, initially scheduled for 2029, could be moved forward to next year, opening the door for Canal+ as a potential saviour.

Advancing the timetable and Olivier Bramly's role

L’Équipe reveals that the chief executive of LFP Media, Olivier Bramly, presented to the Ligue's board of directors his wish to move forward the consultation of stakeholders for the 2027‑2032 period. This decision aims to address the critical situation of the French championship, where subscription revenues remain insufficient.

The shift of the timetable, from 2029 to next year, constitutes a “dramatic turn” in the TV rights market. It allows interested parties to negotiate earlier, while financial pressure intensifies.

Canal+ among the contenders

Canal+, long at odds with the LFP and absent from the last tender, returns among the surveyed media alongside Netflix, Apple and Prime Video. The encrypted channel could thus take up the torch and provide a lasting solution for the clubs.

Canal+ launches free Sport+ with multiplex Ligue and Formula 1 Grand Prix

LFP Media has recovered this season 100 % of the matches after the withdrawal of the Saturday afternoon slot, which allows it to market Ligue 1 in a single package. This centralisation could attract a buyer, whether through the direct purchase of rights or through the distribution of the Ligue 1+ channel.

The decisive factor will remain the price offered. Canal+ will have to assess whether it can bet on Ligue 1 in 2027, while its president, Maxime Saada, denounces the doubling of VAT on pay‑TV channels, from 10 % to 20 %, foreseen in the 2027 finance bill. This increase could force the group to cut its investments in sport.

In summary, the advancement of the tender creates an opportunity for Canal+ to become the new primary broadcaster, but the viability of this gamble will depend on the fiscal evolution and the amount the channel will be willing to offer.