The countdown is on for DAZN. New main broadcaster of Ligue 1 since this season, the platform will have to convince 1.5 million subscribers by December 1, 2025 to hope to continue its broadcasting contract, signed for 2 billion euros over five years. But one year from this deadline, the objective seems out of reach.
The clock is ticking for DAZN
Today, DAZN has around 500,000 subscribers, a figure far from the critical bar. If this threshold is not reached, the Professional Football League (LFP) or DAZN itself could activate an early termination clause, planned for during the final negotiations. A threat that looms all the more heavily as the platform struggles to convince.
Mass piracy is a major obstacle. A recent study shows that 37% of viewers watch Ligue 1 illegally, with a peak of 55% during the last OM-PSG Classic. This phenomenon, amplified since the summer, weakens DAZN's efforts to attract legitimate subscribers.
Furthermore, the platform’s strategy raises questions. Despite considerable investment, editorial coverage is criticized. Football fans denounce insufficient service: matches with minimal commentary, intrusive advertising, and lack of attractive content. Initiatives such as inviting rappers or comedians before meetings struggle to find their audience.
Gazidis at the bedside of Ligue 1
Internally, DAZN continues to reassure, insisting on its long-term ambition. Aggressive promotions, such as the €14.99 per month subscription, demonstrate its desire to expand its subscriber base. But for experts, the problem lies elsewhere. Laurent Salvaudon, editorial director of RMC Sport, highlights the lack of “narrative” around the matches: “What attracts subscribers is the story that we tell beforehand. Today, there is no clear vision of the matches to come. »
Faced with this issue, the LFP is already working on a “plan B” in the event of early departure from DAZN. Several club presidents, including Ivan Gazidis for ASSE, participate in the strategic committee responsible for considering the future of television rights for the championship. A crucial question for Ligue 1, which plays much more than a simple broadcaster here: its economic survival and its international attractiveness.
The next few months will be decisive for DAZN. One thing is certain: French football can no longer afford another failure in the management of its audiovisual rights.
