According to reports, just nine months after signing a five-year contract, DAZN announced it would stop broadcasting Ligue 1 matches—a decision that could jeopardize the finances of many clubs. Reports indicate that the streaming platform, in agreement with the French Professional Football League (LFP), has terminated its contract to broadcast eight matches per week, worth €375 million annually, at the end of the season, paying €100 million in compensation.

This separation, which was foreseeable for some time, stems from disputes over the contract terms signed in August. The LFP’s management committee is expected to confirm the termination on May 2 (Friday). Earlier, a majority of Ligue 1 members voted to end the partnership due to DAZN’s failure to provide financial guarantees. Initial mediation talks failed, but pressure from Ligue 1 accelerated the split. In addition to the €100 million compensation, DAZN will also pay the final two broadcasting installments (€70 million and €30 million).

The LFP is considering launching a dedicated channel through “LFP Media” to fill the void, which would then be handed over to an operator to cover production and distribution costs. This idea, previously explored in the summer, offers no short-term guarantees, but Ligue 1 executives see it as the “least damaging” option in the current crisis.

DAZN terminated the contract due to massive losses of €200–250 million this season. The company also blames the league for failing to combat internet piracy and “manipulating last season’s statistics” (referring to deals with Canal+ and Amazon Prime). DAZN, with only 500,000 subscribers—far below its target of one million—has fallen short.

This split has pushed French clubs, which rely heavily on broadcasting revenue, to the brink of collapse. Any new deal, whether with a dedicated channel, beIN Sports, or Canal+, must allocate 13% of revenue to the CVC investment fund, which also collaborates with LaLiga. This dire situation could pose serious challenges for French football in the next five years.