Supporters will have to wait. On Monday evening, the National Assembly rejected an amendment that would have required one Ligue 1 match per matchday to be broadcast on free-to-air television.
The measure, initially approved in committee several weeks ago, was intended to be part of the proposed law on reforming professional sports. Its goal was to allow a channel to air a Ligue 1 game each weekend.
Lawmakers backing 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 alienating some fans from domestic competitions. The idea was to create a specific package in future bidding rounds so that a broadcaster could transmit a portion of the league each matchday. Proponents also believed such exposure could help combat piracy. This proposal came as fans today must juggle multiple services to follow the entire championship.
The LFP opposed it
However, this option did not enjoy unanimous support within professional football. Several club executives and the Professional Football League feared that a free match every week would diminish the value of audiovisual rights. For clubs already facing a decline in television revenue in recent years, the economic issue remained central. A free-to-air broadcast would have required creating a new package in the tender process, with no guarantee of additional income. The rejection of the amendment means that Ligue 1 broadcasts will not change in the near term. The Ligue 1+ platform will keep all championship fixtures. Although the debate appears closed for now, the question of accessibility to French football could quickly resurface during future discussions over television rights.
