Maxime Saada, the president of French broadcaster Canal+, has delivered a stark assessment of Ligue 1+, the dedicated channel launched by the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP). In a detailed interview with L'Équipe, Saada characterized the channel's first season as a mixed bag, declaring it a "success of launch" and an "editorial success" but ultimately an "economic failure."
The core of Saada's criticism centers on the financial model. He pointed out that approximately €120 million in domestic television rights revenue is set to be redistributed to the clubs. However, he argued that the actual market value, as demonstrated by Ligue 1+'s own performance, is significantly lower. Saada based this on the channel's subscriber base, which he estimated at around one million, with an average revenue per user between €10 and €12 per month.
After accounting for all commissions and taxes, Saada calculated that this subscriber model generates just over €100 million annually. "Today, the value that LFP Media has given it with Ligue 1+ is this one," he stated, suggesting the channel's direct-to-consumer approach has effectively reset the market valuation for French top-flight football rights.
Despite the critical economic outlook, Saada did not close the door on collaboration. He explicitly reopened the possibility for Canal+ to distribute Ligue 1+ through its platform. Crucially, he proposed this partnership would operate without a guaranteed minimum payment to the LFP, instead following a "classic revenue-sharing" model. This would shift the financial risk away from Canal+ and onto the league's performance in attracting and retaining subscribers.
Looking ahead, Saada highlighted a potential vulnerability for Ligue 1+ during the upcoming summer break. He predicted the channel would "certainly lose subscribers" during this period without live matches. To achieve strong growth when the new Ligue 1 season kicks off, Saada argued the channel would need every possible advantage.
It is in this context of seasonal subscriber churn and the need for a marketing boost that Saada positioned Canal+ as a valuable ally. "It is in these moments that Canal can be a useful, even precious, partner," he remarked, framing the established pay-TV giant as a solution to the fledgling channel's retention challenges.
The comments come with only two matchdays remaining in the current Ligue 1 season, marking the end of Ligue 1+'s inaugural year. Saada's public critique and conditional offer of partnership represent a significant move in the ongoing negotiations over the future commercial structure of French football's broadcast rights.
Based on reporting from Foot - actualités, mercato, info & vidéo en continu.