This is a major blow for the Professional Football League. Canal+ has announced that it is withdrawing from distributing the future 100% Ligue 1 channel, scheduled for next season. The group's president, Maxime Saada, confirmed the decision in an interview with L'Équipe, citing "unmet" conditions, particularly a disagreement over the subscription price set by the LFP at €20, deemed too high for an incomplete offering. Indeed, one match per matchday will continue to be broadcast on beIN Sports.
A subscription price deemed unrealistic
Two scenarios had been considered: exclusive distribution by Canal+ with a guaranteed minimum payment, or non-exclusive distribution with the promise of bringing in up to one million subscribers upon launch. But negotiations stalled over the requested price, particularly because the channel will not broadcast all matches. The Canal+ group considers this pricing unrealistic for consumers.
Canal+'s withdrawal comes amid a tense situation following the divorce between the LFP and DAZN in early May. The league has since decided to create its own channel in an attempt to maximize its television revenue. Nicolas de Tavernost, the new head of LFP Media, nevertheless assures that the channel will be ready for the resumption of the championship on August 16.
Despite the split, Maxime Saada denies any desire for revenge, insisting that Canal+ had made constructive proposals. He even mentioned an offer to co-broadcast Sunday night's match for free. The Ligue 1 TV rights saga is therefore far from over.
