Molotov secures sports rights deal with Ligue 1 for 2025/2026 season

According to an announcement on August 18, 2025, Molotov has entered into a non-exclusive carriage agreement with Ligue 1 for the 2025/2026 season. The French streaming platform, operating as a subsidiary of FuboTV Inc., has partnered with Ligue 1+, the official broadcast service for Ligue 1 McDonald's, France's professional soccer league.

The partnership represents Molotov's first major sports rights distribution deal since becoming part of Fubo's global portfolio in December 2021. According to the company announcement, the agreement significantly expands premium sports content available to subscribers in France.

Customers subscribing to Ligue 1+ on Molotov will access eight of the nine live matches during each gameday, with delayed broadcast of the additional match. The agreement includes exclusive shows, in-depth game analysis, documentaries, match replays and club-specific programming.

According to the announcement, Molotov becomes the only streaming platform to offer an extensive library of French television channels and Ligue 1 McDonald's within the same ecosystem. This combination strategy aligns with Molotov's approach to merge premium sports with its robust French entertainment lineup.

Technical infrastructure and streaming capabilities

Molotov operates through over-the-top media service principles, making television accessible via Internet connections without requiring additional hardware beyond Internet access. The platform currently distributes content to nearly 200 publishers and television channels through a single interface that combines linear and non-linear programming.

The service's technical architecture supports access across multiple devices, from mobile to smart TV, including iOS and Android devices. According to company information, Molotov enables users to restart live programmes from the beginning, record content in cloud storage, or follow personalities with alerts for related programming.

The platform offers tiered subscription options. Basic access remains free with French IP addresses, while the Molotov Extra option provides enhanced features including recording capabilities and broader device compatibility. The Molotov Plus subscription adds up to 164 channels, 150 hours of cloud recording, downloading for offline viewing, simultaneous broadcasting to four screens in Full HD and 4K, and access from all European Union countries, Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein.

French streaming market context

France's streaming television landscape has undergone significant transformation since Molotov's 2016 launch. Founded by Jean-David Blanc, who previously created AlloCiné, and Pierre Lescure, co-founder of Canal+, Molotov positioned itself as an alternative to traditional television distribution models.

The company achieved notable milestones during its independent operation, reaching one million users within eight months of launch and claiming 6.6 million users by November 2018. According to historical data, the platform reached 10 million users by January 2020.

Molotov's development coincided with broader shifts in French media consumption patterns. According to the announcement, the partnership addresses changes in television viewing habits, particularly among younger demographics who favour streaming platforms over traditional broadcast methods.

Sports content strategy

Beyond Ligue 1+, Molotov carries major international sporting competitions including FIFA World Cup 2026 and Coupe de France through its carriage agreements with channels including TF1, M6, and France TV. This content distribution strategy reflects broader industry trends toward sports streaming consolidation.

The timing of Molotov's Ligue 1 partnership coincides with significant developments in French football broadcasting. According to Ligue 1 information, the professional league launched its in-house streaming service Ligue 1+ on August 15, 2025, priced at €14.99 monthly. The service exclusively broadcasts eight of nine weekly matches, with BeIN Sports retaining rights to Saturday broadcasts.

These changes followed the termination of DAZN's broadcasting agreement with the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) in April 2025, after legal disputes over unpaid rights payments. L'Équipe reported that DAZN paid €100 million to exit the agreement, plus €140 million in outstanding obligations.

Parent company integration

Fubo's acquisition of Molotov for €164.3 million in November 2021 formed part of the American company's international expansion strategy. According to the announcement, Fubo operates in the United States, Canada, Spain and France through its subsidiary network.

In the United States, Fubo aggregates more than 400 live sports, news and entertainment networks, positioning itself as the only live TV streaming platform offering every English-language Nielsen-rated sports channel. The company has pioneered technical innovations including 4K streaming, MultiView capabilities, and personalized game alerts.

Fubo's global mission centres on aggregating premium television content, including sports, news and entertainment, through single application access. According to the Financial Times ranking, Fubo ranks among The Americas' Fastest-Growing Companies 2025.

The integration allows Molotov to leverage Fubo's proprietary data and technology platform, optimized for live television and sports viewership. This technological foundation supports enhanced user engagement through intuitive and personalized streaming experiences.

Industry implications for digital marketing

PPC Land, which has tracked digital marketing and advertising technology developments since 2016, notes that streaming sports partnerships create new advertising inventory opportunities. Connected television advertising has emerged as a growing sector, with recent analysis showing programmatic CTV advertising growth reaching significant levels.

The consolidation of sports content on streaming platforms represents opportunities for advertisers seeking engaged audiences during live sporting events. Previous reporting indicates that sports streaming partnerships generate substantial advertising revenue, particularly during premium programming periods.

Sports streaming also presents technical challenges for advertising delivery, requiring infrastructure capable of handling audience peaks during scheduled events while maintaining broadcast-quality standards. Industry data suggests that specialized advertising technology platforms designed for streaming environments can deliver significant monetization improvements.

For marketing professionals, the fragmentation of sports content across multiple streaming platforms necessitates more complex media planning strategies. Advertisers must now consider audience distribution across traditional television and various streaming services when planning sports-related campaigns.

Market positioning and competition

Molotov's exclusive combination of French television channels and Ligue 1 content differentiates the platform within France's competitive streaming market. Major international platforms including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+ primarily focus on entertainment content rather than live sports programming.

The partnership positions Molotov as a comprehensive solution for French viewers seeking both traditional television programming and premium sports content. This approach contrasts with single-focus platforms that specialize either in entertainment or sports content exclusively.

France's broadcasting regulations and content requirements create unique market conditions for streaming services. Local content quotas and French-language programming mandates influence platform strategies, potentially providing advantages to domestically-focused services like Molotov over international competitors.

Financial and operational considerations

Molotov's business model combines free basic access with premium subscription tiers, generating revenue through both advertising and direct subscriber payments. The addition of Ligue 1+ content may influence subscription conversion rates, as sports content typically commands premium pricing in streaming markets.

According to Fubo's regulatory filings, the company's international operations, including Molotov, contribute to overall revenue diversity. The French market provides geographic expansion beyond Fubo's primary North American operations, potentially reducing concentration risk.

The integration of Ligue 1 content requires technical infrastructure investments to handle increased viewer loads during popular matches. Live sports streaming demands higher technical reliability standards compared to on-demand entertainment content, necessitating robust content delivery networks and streaming technology.

Future broadcasting landscape

Molotov's Ligue 1 partnership reflects broader industry trends toward direct-to-consumer sports streaming. Traditional broadcasters increasingly compete with technology companies for sports rights, as leagues explore new distribution models to reach younger audiences.

The success of Molotov's sports content strategy may influence other European streaming platforms to pursue similar partnerships with local sports properties. Regional sports leagues across Europe face similar decisions about broadcasting distribution as viewing habits shift toward streaming platforms.

France's regulatory environment for streaming services continues evolving, with potential implications for content requirements, advertising restrictions, and competition policies. These developments may influence future partnership structures between streaming platforms and sports organizations.

Timeline

• August 18, 2025: Molotov announces non-exclusive carriage agreement with Ligue 1 for 2025/2026 season
• August 15, 2025: Ligue 1+ streaming service launches at €14.99 monthly pricing
• July 2025: LFP announces in-house streaming service following DAZN agreement termination
• April 2025: DAZN and LFP terminate broadcasting agreement due to legal disputes
• December 2021: Fubo acquires Molotov for €164.3 million as part of international expansion
• 2016: Molotov launches as independent French streaming platform

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PPC Land explains

Molotov: French streaming television distribution service launched in 2016 by Jean-David Blanc and Pierre Lescure, acquired by FuboTV in 2021. The platform operates through over-the-top media service principles, providing access to nearly 200 television channels and publishers through a single interface that combines linear and non-linear programming. Molotov's technical architecture enables multi-device access, cloud recording capabilities, and content restart functionality, positioning it as a comprehensive alternative to traditional television distribution models in France.

Streaming: Digital content delivery method that transmits video and audio data over internet connections in real-time, eliminating the need for traditional broadcast infrastructure or physical media. Streaming technology enables on-demand access to content across multiple devices while supporting interactive features like pause, rewind, and recording. The streaming model has fundamentally transformed media consumption patterns, particularly among younger demographics who favor internet-based platforms over conventional television services.

Ligue 1: France's highest level professional football league, officially known as Ligue 1 McDonald's for sponsorship reasons, administered by the Ligue de Football Professionnel. The league features 18 clubs competing in a system of promotion and relegation with Ligue 2, operating from August to May with each team playing 34 matches. Ligue 1 represents one of Europe's top five football leagues and serves as a crucial content asset for broadcasters seeking to attract French audiences through premium sports programming.

Sports: Live athletic competitions and related programming that generate high audience engagement during scheduled events, creating valuable advertising inventory for broadcasters and streaming platforms. Sports content typically commands premium subscription pricing and advertising rates due to its appointment viewing nature and demographic appeal. The migration of sports rights from traditional television to streaming platforms represents a fundamental shift in media consumption, with leagues increasingly exploring direct-to-consumer distribution models.

Content: Media programming including live events, on-demand entertainment, documentaries, and interactive features that streaming platforms distribute to attract and retain subscribers. Content strategy determines platform differentiation, with sports content providing particular value through audience engagement and advertising revenue generation. The combination of French television channels and sports programming creates comprehensive content ecosystems that compete effectively against single-focus entertainment or sports-only platforms.

Platform: Digital service infrastructure that aggregates and distributes content to users across multiple devices and operating systems, typically accessed through internet connections. Streaming platforms combine content acquisition, technical delivery systems, user interfaces, and monetization capabilities to create comprehensive entertainment experiences. Platform competition intensifies as companies seek to differentiate through exclusive content, technical features, and pricing strategies while managing content acquisition costs and subscriber retention.

French: Geographic and linguistic market focus that influences content requirements, regulatory compliance, and competitive positioning within France's media landscape. French content quotas and language regulations create unique market conditions for streaming services, potentially providing advantages to domestically-focused platforms over international competitors. The French market represents significant opportunities for platforms offering localized content combined with premium sports programming that serves cultural preferences and viewing habits.

Broadcasting: Traditional and digital distribution of television and radio content to audiences through various transmission methods including terrestrial, cable, satellite, and internet protocols. Broadcasting encompasses both linear scheduled programming and on-demand content delivery, with streaming platforms increasingly competing with traditional broadcasters for audience attention and advertising revenue. The evolution from broadcast to streaming distribution models transforms how content creators, distributors, and advertisers reach target audiences.

Television: Electronic medium for transmitting moving images and sound that has evolved from traditional broadcast distribution to internet-based streaming delivery systems. Television consumption patterns have shifted significantly toward streaming platforms, particularly among younger demographics who prefer on-demand access and multi-device compatibility. The integration of television content with streaming technology creates hybrid viewing experiences that combine traditional programming formats with interactive digital features.

Agreement: Contractual relationship between content creators and distribution platforms that defines rights, responsibilities, revenue sharing, and distribution parameters for specific programming. Broadcasting agreements determine content availability, pricing structures, and territorial restrictions while establishing technical requirements for content delivery. The structure of content agreements influences platform competitiveness, subscriber value propositions, and advertiser access to desirable audience segments during premium programming periods.

Summary

Who: Molotov, a French streaming platform owned by FuboTV Inc., and Ligue 1, France's professional soccer league

What: Non-exclusive carriage agreement providing Molotov subscribers access to Ligue 1+ content, including eight live matches per gameday, exclusive programming, analysis, documentaries, and replays

When: Agreement announced August 18, 2025, covering the 2025/2026 season

Where: France, with Molotov becoming the only platform offering both French television channels and Ligue 1 content in a single ecosystem

Why: To expand premium sports content for Molotov subscribers while creating new distribution channels for Ligue 1 following the termination of previous broadcasting agreements