Broadcaster Canal+ declines to transmit the upcoming channel of the professional soccer association
Canal+ Bails Out on Ligue 1 Channel Deal
In a surprising turn of events, the Canal+ group has decided to walk away from plans to distribute the forthcoming Ligue 1 channel of the Professional Football League (LFP), with president Maxime Saada announcing the decision on June 27th in an interview with L'Equipe, citing unmet conditions as the reason. Casually stating, "We informed the League today. It's a missed opportunity", the Canal+ boss admitted to the departure.
Following a breakup in early May between the LFP and streaming platform DAZN, the League opted for the creation of a wholly-owned L1 channel instead. Discussions with Canal+ had been on the table since then, with LFP Media – the commercial company of the League – and Canal+ Group engaging in preliminary talks.
Clash over Subscription Rates
Two potential scenarios were under serious consideration, according to Maxime Saada. The first proposal involved Canal+ becoming the sole distributor of the channel for a guaranteed minimum amount, with both parties agreeing to co-broadcast Sunday evening highlights. In the second, Canal+ offered to be a non-exclusive distributor, allowing it to distribute the channel along with all other market players while benefiting from an unmatched reach in France.
As quoted by Maxime Saada, "We estimated that we could bring very quickly between 800,000 and 1 million subscribers at launch, just with Canal+." However, the meeting planned with Nicolas de Tavernost, former M6 and Bordeaux Girondins boss appointed director general of LFP Media in late April, never materialized, with Maxime Saada citing a "deep disagreement over subscription prices" as the primary reason for the breakdown in negotiations.
Once upon a time, Canal+ was a historic partner of French football but, as of now, "It won't happen", according to Maxime Saada. Despite the setback, it is confirmed that a Ligue 1 channel will be available at the resumption of the championship, as Nicolas de Tavernost had assured in a June 11th interview with AFP.
Thislatest turn in the negotiations marks the ongoing complexities surrounding Ligue 1 broadcasting, with notable changes in the league's appeal following Amazon's decision not to renew its rights and the exits of top stars like Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi. Meanwhile, DAZN has sealed a substantial five-year deal, around €500 million, for top-division soccer in France, including Ligue 1 rights, in partnership with BeIN Sports [4]. As of late June 2025, no announcement has been made regarding Canal+'s final involvement or the resolution of the pricing issue with LFP Media.
The breakdown in negotiations between LFP Media and Canal+ Group, despite discussions being ongoing since the LFP's separation from streaming platform DAZN, was primarily due to a deep disagreement over subscription prices. Regrettably, Canal+ will not be a part of the forthcoming Ligue 1 channel, impeding a potential 800,000 to 1 million subscribers at launch, as initially estimated.
