A free Ligue 1 match every week could soon become a reality. After several delays, the National Assembly is finally examining the proposed law (PPL) on Monday, which includes an amendment to require the free-to-air broadcast of one French top-flight match each matchday. The amendment, introduced in May, is part of a broader effort to overhaul French football.
“This would undeniably boost the visibility of domestic football”
Currently, watching Ligue 1 requires a subscription to the Ligue1+ platform, starting at €15 per month. The platform has around one million subscribers. Lawmakers behind the amendment argue that the proliferation of paid broadcasters and multiple subscriptions distances spectators from sporting events and encourages piracy. “To allow the widest possible access to professional competitions, we should ensure that whenever television rights are sold, a package for one free-to-air match per week is included,” the deputies explained. “Broadcasting one Ligue 1 match for free each weekend would undeniably contribute to the exposure of national football. This proposal comes from the 2021 report by MP Cédric Roussel’s information mission on sports broadcasting rights.”
Sports economist Pierre Rondeau highlighted the potential: “Two years ago, the LFP estimated that 22 million French people were interested in Ligue 1. Out of those, only one million subscribe to Ligue1+. There’s huge untapped potential. If people are told it’s free, maybe one, two, or even four million would tune in.”
The LFP disagrees, arguing that free broadcasts could devalue media rights, which account for over 50% of club revenue. Intense lobbying by the league and broadcasters has been underway ahead of Monday’s vote. The proposed law was already passed by the Senate last year and by a parliamentary commission in May, where the free-match amendment was added. After this week’s debate, the text can still be modified by a joint committee scheduled for July 21. The bill covers a wide range of issues: anti-piracy measures, stronger roles for federations and the sports ministry in governing professional leagues, regulated redistribution of audiovisual income, and caps on executive pay. Attempts to reach the LFP, club presidents, and Ligue1+ for comment were unsuccessful.
