French parliament rejects plan for weekly free-to-air Ligue 1 match

Fans will have to wait a little longer. On Monday evening, the French National Assembly rejected an amendment that would have required one Ligue 1 match per round to be broadcast free-to-air.

The measure, approved in committee several weeks ago, was intended to be part of a broader bill reforming professional sports. Its aim was to allow a broadcaster to show one Ligue 1 game every weekend.

Lawmakers who backed the amendment aimed to improve access to French football. In the explanatory memorandum, they argued that the growing number of broadcasters and subscription packages was pushing some fans away from domestic competitions. The proposal envisioned creating a specific package in future bidding rounds so that a channel could air one match each round. Supporters also believed that greater exposure could help combat piracy. The proposition came at a time when fans need multiple services to watch the entire league.

The LFP opposed it

However, this option was not unanimously supported within professional football. Several club leaders and the Professional Football League (LFP) feared that a free match each week would diminish the value of broadcast rights. For clubs already facing declining TV revenue in recent years, the economic aspect remained crucial. A free-to-air broadcast would require creating a new package in the tender process, with no guarantee of extra income. The rejection of the amendment means that Ligue 1 broadcasting will not change in the short term. The Ligue 1+ platform will continue to carry all league matches. Although the debate seems settled for now, the question of accessibility of French football could quickly resurface in upcoming discussions on television rights.