Nicolas de Tavernost says piracy costs Ligue 1+ about €100m and backs tougher sanctions
The article reports that Nicolas de Tavernost, outgoing CEO of LFP Media, said piracy is causing massive financial damage to French football and costing Ligue 1+ around €100 million in lost revenue. Speaking before the French Senate during discussions about the football TV rights crisis, he estimated that illegal streaming and pirate IPTV services prevented the platform from gaining roughly 400,000 additional subscribers.
De Tavernost described piracy as one of the biggest threats facing Ligue 1’s economic model. Ligue 1+ currently has slightly under 1.1 million subscribers, but the league believes illegal viewing remains widespread across France through streaming sites, Telegram groups, IPTV networks, mirror domains, and VPN services. Around half of anti piracy complaints handled by French regulator Arcom reportedly involve Ligue 1 content.
The article also highlights growing pressure for tougher enforcement measures. De Tavernost argued that current penalties are not strong enough and supported stricter sanctions not only against piracy operators but also against users who rely on VPNs and illegal streaming systems. He said proposed French legislation could significantly strengthen anti piracy enforcement and improve rapid blocking systems.
More broadly, the story reflects wider instability in French football broadcasting. Ligue 1’s domestic TV rights value has sharply declined in recent years following failed media deals and disputes with broadcasters like DAZN and beIN Sports. The league increasingly views piracy as a central reason why subscription growth and broadcasting revenues remain below expectations.
