Although Téléfoot was announced as doomed just two months ago, it should ultimately remain on the air. According to The TeamTF1 has changed its position and now wishes to continue broadcasting its long-running football news magazine. Created in 1977, the program was initially scheduled to end at the end of the current period. The channel had considered replacing it with a multi-sport program, designed to showcase other sports broadcast by the group, particularly rugby. This scenario now appears to be off the table.
Sunday at 11 a.m. still targeted
TF1 is expected to keep Téléfoot on its main channel, broadcast linearly, maintaining its traditional time slot: Sundays at 11 a.m. This decision marks a significant shift for an iconic program in the French sports broadcasting landscape. It also reflects TF1's desire to preserve a strong brand, associated with French football for nearly fifty years, even as sports rights, images, and formats remain central to broadcasters' strategies.
A new contract is being negotiated with LFP Media.
The matter now hinges on an agreement with LFP Media, the commercial subsidiary of the Professional Football League. According to L'Équipe, TF1 is negotiating a new contract to acquire the rights to broadcast the French Championship. The channel had previously terminated its agreement, signed in 2024, which was worth approximately €1 million per year. An exit clause allowed for this termination if the program was cancelled after two seasons. However, after activating this clause, TF1 returned to the negotiating table. A new contract is now being negotiated, with some adjustments expected.
A strategic decision for TF1
Keeping Téléfoot would send a strong message. While TF1 had seemed ready to move on, the channel now appears to be prioritizing continuity with a program that is well-known to the public. The show would thus remain one of the few long-standing football magazines still broadcast on a major general-interest channel. For TF1, keeping Téléfoot would maintain a direct link with Ligue 1 news, while also capitalizing on a brand familiar to several generations of viewers.
