The French Professional Football League (LFP) has appointed Marc Las as the new Editorial Director of Ligue 1+, the competition’s proprietary audiovisual OTT (Over-The-Top) platform. Las, who brings extensive experience from his tenures at Orange Sport, beIN Sports, and La Chaîne L’Équipe, will officially begin his role on March 30, 2026.
Key Strategic Changes
- Reporting Structure: Las will report directly to Jérôme Cazadieu and collaborate closely with Frédéric de Vincelles and the sports teams at Mediawan.
- Transition: The LFP expressed gratitude to Samyr Hamoudi, who led the platform’s editorial content development since its launch.
- Platform Challenges: The appointment comes at a critical time. Ligue 1’s broadcasting rights valuation has plummeted from an estimated €1 billion annually to current figures between €150 million and €200 million.
Context: The Crisis in French Football Media
The LFP is currently navigating a difficult transitional period for its media business:
- DTC Shift: The shift toward a Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) model via Ligue 1+ was intended to bypass traditional broadcasters, but the platform is now facing a stagnation in subscription growth following its initial launch phase.
- Executive Turnover: The project has seen significant leadership volatility, notably the resignation of Nicolas de Tavernost, President of LFP Media and a primary architect of the OTT strategy.
- Content Limitations: The platform’s goal of securing major tournament rights (such as the 2026 and 2030 World Cups) to boost subscriptions was thwarted when beIN Sports ultimately secured those rights.