Ligue 1 was absent from Italian screens last season as the league failed to secure a broadcast deal. (Catherine Steenkeste/Getty Images for Qatar Airways)

French soccer’s top-tier Ligue 1 has found a broadcast home in Italy after a one-year absence, with pay-TV giant Sky Italia picking up rights for the upcoming 2025-26 season.

From the opening matchday of the new campaign on Friday (August 15), Sky Sport will broadcast at least two matches per round, including the top match of the day, with this deal being directly negotiated by the broadcaster and the LFP Media French soccer body.

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Sky will also cover highlights and key moments from the French league in its daily Euro Show coverage and analysis.   

Live coverage will be on the linear Sky Sport channels and the Now streaming service.

Rennes face Marseille in the Ligue 1 opener on Friday.

Currently, the Infront agency manages the international media rights to the top-flight Ligue 1 and second-tier Ligue 2 competitions in several global markets across Europe, Asia, and Oceania, for five years between 2024-25 and 2028-29.

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The LFP has also had well-documented issues with its domestic media rights after global sports streaming service DAZN terminated its five-year contract (signed last year) after just one season.

For the upcoming campaign, the league will be shown domestically by a new Ligue 1 channel launched by the league.