Fans will have to wait. On Monday evening, the French National Assembly rejected an amendment that would have required a free-to-air broadcast of one Ligue 1 match each matchday.
This measure, approved in committee several weeks ago, was part of a bill reforming professional sport. It aimed to allow a channel to air one Ligue 1 fixture every weekend without subscription fees.
Deputies supporting the amendment wanted to make French football more accessible. In their justification, they argued that the growing number of broadcasters and paid subscriptions was alienating many fans from national competitions. The idea was to create a specific package in future bidding rounds so a broadcaster could show one game per round. Proponents also believed such exposure could help combat piracy. The proposal came at a time when supporters need multiple subscriptions to watch the entire championship.
The professional football league opposed it
This option was not universally welcomed within professional football. Several club leaders and the French Professional Football League feared that a free match every week would reduce the value of audiovisual rights. For clubs already facing a drop in TV revenue in recent years, the economic issue was critical. A free broadcast would have required a new package in the bidding process, with no guarantee of additional income. Rejection of the amendment means Ligue 1 broadcasting will not change in the short term. The Ligue 1+ platform will continue to show all matches. Although the debate appears closed for now, the question of accessibility of French football may quickly return to the agenda in future discussions on TV rights.
