While DAZN finds itself in difficulty with a number of subscribers well beyond expectations, Ligue 1 could find itself again looking for a broadcast solution from the 2026-2027 season. Daniel Riolo and the After Foot team raised the possibility of seeing a channel developed by the LFP where we would find all of French Football.
The DAZN platform could lose broadcast rights to Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 if it does not reach 1.5 million subscribers before December 1, 2025, as planned in its contract for the period 2024-2029. Currently, DAZN is capped at around 500,000 subscribers, far from the set objective. In the event of an early termination, the Professional Football League (LFP) will have to find a new broadcaster from the 2026/2027 season. Among the avenues studied, a platform dedicated to French football is making headway.
A channel specific to Ligue 1?
Wednesday evening, during the show After Foot on RMC, Daniel Riolo revealed the outlines of this project supported by certain clubs, notably Olympique Lyonnais. According to him, “DAZN will not go beyond its contract”, and the creation of a 100% French football channel could be a viable solution. This channel would bring together all Ligue 1, Ligue 2, National, women’s football and Coupe de France matches. With an affordable price, it could attract a large audience and stabilize club income. Such a platform could also include Ligue 3 (currently the National), the Cups (Coupe de France, Trophée des Champions), women’s football, and even the French youth teams. Broadcasts of old matches and thematic reports would enrich the offer.
The LFP will have to put itself back together
However, this project raises several questions. The main obstacle would be the need for a considerable initial investment before reaching a sufficient subscriber threshold. Furthermore, collaboration between the different players in French football remains complex. Vincent Labrune, current president of the LFP, is accused by some, including Riolo, of dividing rather than uniting. “We need a president who brings people together. It can no longer be Labrune. Otherwise, it’s a disaster,” says the columnist. He also points out the tensions between certain influential leaders, such as Nasser al-Khelaïfi, president of PSG and beIN SPORTS, and John Textor, owner of Olympique Lyonnais.
-A viable model?
From a financial point of view, Gilbert Brisbois estimated the production cost of all competitions at around 77 million euros per year: 25 million for Ligue 1, 10 million for Ligue 2, 5 million for the Ligue 3, 5 million for women’s football, and 10 million for the Coupe de France. To this are added 5 million for the creation of the platform, 5 million for technical support, 10 million for editorial, 1 million for marketing, and 1 million for subscription management.
By offering subscriptions at 20 or 25 euros per month over a ten-month season, revenues could reach between 400 and 523 million euros, depending on the price chosen and the number of subscribers (2 million being the expected historical ceiling) . After deducting costs, between 323 and 446 million euros would remain to be redistributed to the clubs. This amount is close to the current revenues from the DAZN-beIN SPORTS agreements, while making French football less dependent on external broadcasters.
A turn to take for Ligue 1?
Despite these uncertainties, the concept of a single channel or platform dedicated to French football is attracting more and more players. If the LFP and the FFF manage to work together and overcome their internal divisions, this project could represent a real revolution for football in France. But time is running out: the future of French football could be decided in the coming months.
