Sports NEWS

Saudi Pro League Loses Broadcasting Rights in France Amid Audience Disinterest

Canal+ ceases broadcasting of the Saudi Pro League in France due to low viewership.

    Key details

  • • Canal+ did not renew its contract for the Saudi Pro League due to low viewer engagement.
  • • The league averaged 10,000 to 15,000 viewers per match, with many matches below 5,000 viewers.
  • • High-profile players have not translated into viewer interest in France.
  • • L’Équipe may express interest in weekly coverage moving forward.

The Saudi Pro League has officially lost its broadcasting rights in France after Canal+ opted not to renew its contract. This decision, announced on August 5, 2025, comes after the league struggled significantly with viewer engagement, averaging only between 10,000 and 15,000 viewers per match. Many fixtures attracted fewer than 5,000 fans in attendance, despite the presence of high-profile players like Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema.

Canal+'s decision not to renew the contract is indicative of the league's broader challenges in capturing the French audience's interest, according to Thomas Sénécal, head of sports at Canal+. In an interview with L’Équipe, he confirmed, "We did not renew our contract with the Saudi Pro League." Previously, the league was broadcast by RMC Sport before it transitioned to Canal+ in the summer of 2023.

Despite its ambition to grow international visibility, the league now finds itself without a French broadcaster, although it is still shown in 159 countries worldwide. Future broadcasting options in France remain uncertain, although there may be interest from L’Équipe to offer weekly match coverage.

This article was synthesized and translated from native language sources to provide English-speaking readers with local perspectives.

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