TV rights crisis: French football has gone from TV-dependence to UEFA

After being crowned French champions, PSG is gearing up to face Arsenal in the Champions League final on May 30 in Budapest. Behind this misleading showcase lies a French league whose funding is drying up. “The French model is 10 to 15 years behind its neighbors,” analyzes Vincent Chaudel, founder of the Sports Business Observatory.

Published on May 14, 2026 at 14:34, updated at 14:36. Reading time: 3 minutes.

Canal+ and BeIn Sports have divided the broadcast rights for Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 for the 2016-2020 period. Photo from April 4, 2014 (FRANCK FIFE / AFP)

French champions for the twelfth time in 14 years, PSG won its fifth consecutive title on May 13, defeating RC Lens 2-0. In the stands, banners were raised with messages like “Nasser [Al-Khelaïfi] kills Ligue 1” or “Qatar kills French football.” These messages reflect the growing discomfort among supporters over the imbalance between PSG, one of Europe’s richest clubs, and its rivals.

Nicolas de Tavernost, CEO of LFP Media, a commercial subsidiary of LFP, was questioned on May 6 by the Senate to discuss the crisis of football TV rights. According to Vincent Chaudel, “the French market cannot afford to antagonize Canal+.”

The French clubs heavily rely on TV rights, which have significantly decreased in recent years. Ligue 1+, created urgently, brings in around 120 million euros for the clubs. This shift towards UEFA dependence has made European competition economically vital for many clubs. Thanks to PSG, Monaco, Marseille, Strasbourg, Nice, and Lyon, Ligue 1 will receive at least 310 million euros from UEFA this year.

The transition to a model less dependent on TV rights, focusing more on players, training, transfers, and ticketing, is underway in French football. However, this model is about 10 to 15 years behind its neighbors. Vincent Chaudel believes that clubs not participating in Europe will need to enhance their training programs, while those in European competitions must adjust economically.

It is possible for the championship to become financially stronger again, but it will take time to build. The French market cannot risk losing Canal+, its main actor and historical broadcaster. Canal+ has learned to live without Ligue 1 in recent years and is now more inclined to distribute rather than pay for the rights. We are currently in a transitional period.