Disney+ and Paramount+ in race for Ligue 1 TV rights, Thierry Henry in the mix

Two American video-on-demand giants could soon broadcast Ligue 1. According to Bloomberg, Walt Disney Co. and Skydance Corp — parent companies of Disney+ and Paramount+ — are considering submitting an offer before the December 3 deadline. The LFP, chaired by Vincent Labrune, has reportedly set a confidential reserve price between €350 and €400 million.

Disney+ is already present on the French football market: the group has acquired the rights to La Liga, which it co-broadcasts with DAZN.

It is precisely this link with Canal+ that makes the Paramount+ file particularly closely watched. In the United States, the service hosts CBS Sports, a channel that broadcasts the Ligue des Champions with a regularly viral show hosted by Thierry Henry, Jamie Carragher and Micah Richards. Recorded in England, it targets the American market.

If Skydance wins the Ligue 1 rights, Thierry Henry would be a natural headliner for a channel dedicated to the French championship. The 1998 World Cup winner had already proven himself in this role: as a consultant for DAZN for two seasons, he toured Ligue 1 stadiums before taking over the France U-21 team and then the Olympic team.

Candidates have until December 3 to submit their proposal to the LFP. The outcome of this bidding process will determine the new audiovisual landscape of French football from next season onwards.