The Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) has opened a tender for domestic audiovisual rights to Ligue 1 matches covering the 2027/28 through 2031/32 seasons. Unlike past auctions, bidders can compete for the entire competition in one of two distinct ways: buying traditional broadcast rights outright, or securing an exclusive deal to distribute the league's own streaming service, Ligue 1+.
Two paths to the same rights package
The LFP Board approved the structure to give prospective partners flexibility rather than a single fixed model. One option mirrors the conventional approach, where a broadcaster acquires rights to air all matches. The other builds on Ligue 1+, the league-owned over-the-top platform launched in August 2025 by LFP Media, which already holds exclusive domestic streaming rights to the championship. Under this second configuration, a bidder would take over exclusive distribution of that existing service rather than starting from scratch.
LFP Media CEO Olivier Bramly said the dual-track format was designed after extensive market consultation to let bidders "bid on 100 per cent of the competition," which he called a first for the league. He framed the choice as a way to test which combination of product and marketing creates the most value, whether through rights acquisition or by extending the Ligue 1+ ecosystem already in place.
Why Ligue 1+ changes the league's leverage
After one season, Ligue 1+ has become a significant asset in its own right. The LFP says the platform has built an estimated 1.1 million subscribers and gives the league direct control over production, rather than depending entirely on an outside broadcaster. That in-house infrastructure appears to be the basis for offering distribution rights as a standalone option: a partner could plug into an already-functioning streaming operation instead of negotiating rights from zero.
LFP President Vincent Labrune described the arrangement as restoring "freedom of choice" for the league, pointing to on-field strength - including two-time reigning European champions Paris Saint-Germain - full stadiums and a track record of developing young talent as selling points. He said the league's goal is to balance value for clubs, broader exposure for the competition, and continued accessibility for fans.
Timeline and what remains uncertain
The call for bids is open now and runs until December 3. The LFP has not disclosed financial targets, specific bidder names, or how it will weigh the two configurations against each other once offers arrive. Those details, along with any eventual broadcaster or distributor selected, will determine how French soccer coverage reaches viewers domestically once the current rights cycle ends after the 2026/27 season.