Ligue 1 free-to-air match proposal examined by French parliament today

The French National Assembly examines a proposed law on Monday that would reform professional football, including a requirement to broadcast one Ligue 1 match per matchday on free-to-air television — a measure opposed by the LFP.

Could Ligue 1 fans soon watch a match for free every week? The National Assembly is taking up the proposed law (PPL) to reform French football on Monday after several delays. The amendment, which would require one match per round to be shown on a free channel, was added during the commission review in May.

Currently, watching Ligue 1 requires a subscription to Ligue1+ starting at 15 euros per month, which has about one million subscribers. “The multiplication of broadcasters for different sports competitions, and thus the multiplication of paid subscriptions, strongly distances spectators from sporting events and encourages piracy,” the deputies who introduced the amendment explain. “To allow the greatest number of people access to these professional competitions, each time television rights are sold, a package for the free-to-air broadcast of one match per week should be provided. Broadcasting one Ligue 1 match per weekend on free television would undeniably contribute to the exposure of national football. This proposal stems from the report of the information mission on audiovisual broadcasting rights for sporting events, led by deputy Cédric Roussel in 2021.”

Sports economist Pierre Rondeau noted that two years ago, the LFP estimated 22 million French people were interested in Ligue 1, yet only one million subscribe to Ligue1+. “There is enormous potential to capture a new audience. If they are told it is free, perhaps one, two, or four million would watch on television.”

The LFP opposes the amendment, arguing that free broadcasts could devalue the TV rights, which account for over 50% of club revenues. Intense lobbying by the league and television channels has been underway since the amendment was announced.

The proposed law was already passed by the Senate last year and by the Assembly’s commission in May, where the amendment was added. After Monday’s debate in the hemicycle, the text can still be modified by a joint committee on July 21. The bill covers a wide range of issues: anti-piracy measures, a strengthened role for federations and the sports ministry in the governance of professional leagues, regulated redistribution of audiovisual revenues, and capped executive compensation. Efforts to reach the LFP, club presidents, and Ligue1+ for comment were unsuccessful.