Amazon Prime Video bid to rejoin Ligue 1 rejected for Ligue 1+ exclusivity | OneFootball

According to L'Équipe, Amazon Prime Video approached the LFP in April to replace beIN Sports by showing one Ligue 1 match per round in 2026-27, but the league opted to keep exclusivity with Ligue 1+.

Ligue 1 returns on Friday 21 August with OM-Strasbourg, kicking off a season carried exclusively on Ligue 1+. beIN Sports, which showed a Saturday afternoon slot worth 78.5 million euros a year, has withdrawn after legal actions against LFP Media.

The LFP and clubs now rely on modest income from the hastily launched platform, which has about 1.1 million subscribers. Amazon, which held 8 of 10 matches from 2021 to 2024 for 250 million euros a year, proposed a cheaper single-game slot.

The offer went to the LFP board in April. LFP Media chiefs, notably chief executive Nicolas de Tavernost, opposed giving up exclusivity, arguing the platform needs a full, clear package. No follow-up was made and the approach was to stay confidential.

In the coming months the e-commerce group, which distributes Ligue 1+ like most operators, could yet have another opening. A tender could be launched as early as this autumn for rights from 2029 to 2034.

Olivier Bramly, de Tavernost’s successor, has just taken office and must quickly contact broadcasters to prepare any autumn consultation. In March, de Tavernost urged testing the market by year end for rights from 2029-30, but readiness must be checked to avoid another blank outcome.

Source: L'Équipe