French football fans will have to continue paying for every match. On Monday evening, the Assemblée nationale voted against an amendment that would have required one Ligue 1 game to be broadcast on free-to-air television during each round of the championship.
This measure had previously been approved by a committee several weeks ago and was intended to be part of a broader legislative reform of professional sports. The initiative sought to guarantee that a single Ligue 1 fixture would be accessible to the general public every weekend without a subscription.
Lawmakers supporting the amendment were primarily focused on making French football more inclusive. They pointed out that the current landscape, characterized by multiple broadcasters and expensive monthly fees, is driving many supporters away from domestic competitions. The proposal suggested creating a specific broadcasting package for future tender processes, allowing a free-to-air channel to air one match per day. Proponents also argued that increased visibility on public television could serve as an effective tool against illegal streaming and piracy, especially as fans currently struggle with the high costs of following the entire league.
Resistance from the LFP and club officials
The proposal met significant resistance within the professional football industry. The Ligue de football professionnel and several club presidents expressed deep concerns that offering a free match every week would diminish the overall value of audiovisual rights. For clubs already grappling with a decline in television revenue over recent seasons, the economic implications were a major sticking point. Implementing a free-to-air requirement would have necessitated a total overhaul of the bidding process with no guarantee of generating additional income. With the rejection of this amendment, the broadcasting landscape for Ligue 1 will remain unchanged for the foreseeable future. The Ligue 1+ platform will maintain its exclusive coverage of all matches. Although this specific legislative attempt has failed, the conversation regarding the accessibility of French football is likely to remain a hot topic in upcoming media rights discussions.