France football’s broadcast future is under the spotlight once again after the Head of LFP Media has quit leaving an uncertain future of Ligue 1’s streaming service.
After BeIN Sports beat out Ligue 1+ for the broadcasting rights in France for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the CEO of France’s Football Professional League (LFP) Media quit.
On 11 February, Nicolas de Tavernost revealed his plans to resign as CEO of LFP Media during a league Board of Directors meeting after BeIN Media Group poached the World Cup rights away from LFP Media’s Ligue 1+, the French football league’s dedicated streaming service.
LFP Media had initially announced it had acquired France’s rights for the World Cup, as confirmed by de Tavernost. The initial agreement with FIFA was to broadcast all 104 games with a reported €20m fee paid from LFP Media.
However, BeIN Media Group, which shared broadcast rights for the 2022 World Cup alongside TF1, lodged an improved offer to secure the rights for the 2026 and 2030 World Cup for €60m in total.
Upon the news of BeIN Sports had become France’s 2026 World Cup broadcaster, de Tavernost told representatives at the league meeting, “I am not in a position to continue my mission effectively (as) the head of LFP Media”.
New blow for France football’s financial future?
The addition of exclusive World Cup games for Ligue 1+ would have reportedly added upwards of 200,000 new subscribers, according to L’Equipe, to the streaming service during a down period for Ligue 1 this summer.
Since launching in August 2025, the direct-to-consumer platform has already surpassed one million subscribers in France. Ligue 1+ was created by LFP Media after it was unable to secure a national broadcaster following the collapse of its previous deal with DAZN in April 2025.
LFP forecasted in October 2025 that Ligue 1 clubs would accumulate $166m in total from the first year of Ligue 1+ in broadcast revenue, with this season’s Ligue 1 champions projected to earn $35m.
Ligue 1+ has a set price of $17.00 (€14.99) for a standard subscription, with other packages set at $12 for customers under-26 years old, and a month-to-month subscription plan priced at $23.
As the LFP and clubs are now relying on subscription revenue as opposed to guarantees from third-party broadcasters, broadcast revenue for clubs hinges on the success of Ligue 1+ and the amount of subscribers on its platform.
In the previous deal with DAZN, Angers SCO revealed it was expected to make $22.3m in broadcast revenue, but under Ligue 1+’s model, it is projected to make only $3.52m.
The addition of potentially adding 200,000 new subscribers for World Cup coverage this summer could have seen $3.4m raised from subscriptions – based on the $17.00 standard subscription price, to then be awarded to Ligue 1 clubs.
The LFP is aiming for 2.5 million-2.9 million Ligue 1+ subscribers over the next four years.
Has PSG undercut additional Ligue 1 revenue?
BeIN Sports outbidding LFP Media for the 2026 World Cup broadcast rights also raises a potential compromise between BeIN Media Group, the LFP, and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).
Nasser Al-Khelaifi is the Group Chairman of BeIN Media Group and the President of PSG. With BeIN Sports acquiring the World Cup rights away from Ligue 1+, it has decreased any additional broadcast revenue for PSG.
During the league meeting when de Tavernos announced his intentions to resign as LFP Media CEO, L’Equipe reported PSG General Manager Victoriano Melero held “tense exchanges” with de Tavernos.
While PSG’s broadcast revenues may have taken a hit, the club has morphed a new commercial strategy away from relying on broadcast revenue.
Unlike the other 19 Ligue 1 clubs, which value broadcast revenue as a significant source of income, PSG has leveraged its position in Paris to secure lucrative sponsorships with the likes of Air Jordan, Nike, Qatar Airways, amongst others.
This push to become a ‘lifestyle brand’ helped PSG to a record $993.2m in revenue for the 2024/25 season. The club made $435.5m in commercial revenue and $207.7m in matchday revenue, but did not disclose broadcast revenue.
Since being bought by Qatari Sports Investment (QSI) in 2011, PSG has won 11 out of the last 14 Ligue 1 titles while also accumulating the most broadcast revenue for a French club.
Other French clubs however have struggled significantly due to financial troubles. Girondins de Bordeaux fell into administration and was stripped of its professional status in 2024, while seven-time Ligue 1 champions Olympique Lyonnais was provisionally relegated to Ligue 2 in June 2025 after amassing €425m in debt, but ultimately retained its Ligue 1 status.
