Q: What happened between the LFP and DAZN?

In August 2024, sports streamer DAZN became Ligue 1’s primary broadcast partner in a deal with the LFP (Ligue de Football Professionnel) worth €400m per season from 2024 to 2029 - with beIN Sports contributing an additional €79m annually to bring the total to €479m. This came after DAZN had already begun showing Ligue 1 through a content and distribution partnership with Canal+ signed in August 2023. However, just one season into the agreement, DAZN is seeking an early exit — and according to reports, this will be enabled by the LFP as it shifts focus to launching its own channel.

Q: Why the sudden split?

Five years ago, Ligue 1 was set to generate more than €1bn per season from its domestic media rights. But a global pandemic, the collapse of previous rightsholder Mediapro’s ambitious deal, and recurring disputes between the LFP and its broadcast partners have all contributed to a steady erosion in value. Now, domestic rights income is less than half of those initial expectations—and DAZN appears unconvinced it can achieve a return on its investment.

Ligue 1 still has commercial strengths. It ranks as the second-most followed competition in France, watched by 39% of sports fans, and ranks first for willingness to pay, at 19% of sports fans in France. But the shift from traditional broadcasters to subscription OTT has created friction: 44% of Ligue 1 fans say they only want to watch via traditional broadcast TV. 

Moreover, a lack of competition — PSG have won 11 titles in 13 years — and a growing piracy problem make it harder to build a sustainable, paid model. Indeed, 55% of Ligue 1 fans in France now say they use piracy services monthly, a figure that rises to 73% among those who say they are willing to pay. The most commonly cited reasons are usability and cost: pirate services are perceived as simpler, while legal alternatives are often seen as overpriced.

Q: What will happen next?

DAZN remains responsible for the rest of this season and will owe a €100m early exit fee. But the bigger story now is structural: French football is preparing to replace the LFP with a new organization that would hand Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 clubs greater control over media rights and competition structures. Backed by the French Football Federation, the reform draws inspiration from the Premier League model and could be implemented as early as the 2026–27 season.

Within that overhaul, the idea of a fully league-run, direct-to-consumer channel is gaining momentum. It’s a bold move—but one shaped by necessity, as with traditional broadcasters less willing to bid and valuations falling, the league has few viable alternatives. Still, the scale needed to succeed is daunting: at €10/month over a 10-month season, Ligue 1 would need around 4.8 million subscribers to match current rights income—just shy of Disney+’s French base. In practice, however, fan interest and price sensitivity suggests a more realistic subscriber base may be closer to 1.8 million. 

All this, and more, makes the path ahead complex. The league must resolve its deal with beIN Sports, secure distribution partners, and rebuild trust with fans. DAZN has offered to help distribute any new platform, potentially offsetting its exit fee. But more than a broadcast solution, this is a test of whether a league can reinvent both how it’s run and how it reaches its audience.

The 2025–26 season may serve as a transitional year—one marked by caution and financial uncertainty. Clubs will be operating without clarity on future media income, and while a league-run channel could offer long-term upside, the immediate risks are real. Still, if the structural reform holds and broadcasters like Canal+ re-engage, the 2026–27 season could offer something rare in French football: a genuine reset.