Fans will need to be patient. On Monday evening, the National Assembly rejected an amendment that would have required one Ligue 1 match per round to be broadcast on free television.
This measure, previously passed in committee several weeks ago, was meant to be included in the bill reforming professional sports. Its goal was to allow a channel to air a top-flight fixture every weekend free of charge.
Lawmakers who supported the amendment aimed to make French football more accessible. In the explanatory statement, they argued that the growing number of broadcasters and subscription packages was pushing some supporters away from national competitions. The idea was to create a specific package in future bidding rounds so a broadcaster could show one match per round for free. Backers also believed such exposure could help combat piracy. This proposal came as fans currently need multiple services to watch the entire championship.
The LFP opposed the plan
However, the option did not have unanimous support within professional football. Several club executives and the Professional Football League (LFP) worried that a free match every week would diminish the value of broadcasting rights. For clubs already facing declining television revenues in recent years, the economic question remained central. A free-to-air broadcast would require creating a new package in the bidding process, with no guarantee of additional income. The rejection of the amendment means that Ligue 1 broadcasts will not change in the short term. The Ligue 1+ platform will keep all matches of the championship. Even though the debate seems closed for now, the issue of accessibility in French football could quickly return to the table in future discussions on television rights.
