Basketball soon free-to-air on BFM channels?
Sept 5, 2025
Gabriel Pantel-Jouve
LNB still hopes for a free-to-air game on Sundays at 7pm
Betclic ELITE - Philippe Ausseur confirmed that there will again be a weekly free-to-air Betclic ELITE game. The broadcasting channel remains to be determined, with several parties in discussion.
Photo Credit : Lilian Bordron
The French basketball championship still struggles to find TV visibility matching its development. However, Philippe Ausseur, LNB president, announced before media day that a free-to-air game on Sundays at 7pm would again be offered this season. The question remains: on which channel will it be broadcast?
Sunday slot maintained
As in 2024-2025, the public will have access to a free weekly broadcast. Last year, DAZN – official broadcaster until 2029 – handled this slot in the absence of an agreement with a national channel. « We’re keeping this slot, a flagship game on Sunday at 7pm, because we want to maximize exposure, » Philippe Ausseur explained in Le Figaro.
Several options explored
The LNB is in talks with various groups. France Télévisions, already broadcasting Elite 2, is one option. L’Équipe channel is also mentioned. The BFM group recently shared its interest in the French championship. While Ausseur admits that LNB « dreams of the TF1 group, » reaching such a network still seems premature.
DAZN as backup solution
If negotiations fail, DAZN will again take over broadcasting this free game, in addition to its paid offering. The LNB president hopes to announce « good news » at the SuperCup, organized on September 20-21 at Roland-Garros, featuring Paris, Monaco, Le Mans and Boulazac.
Gabriel Pantel-Jouve is the founder and editor-in-chief of BeBasket, which he has been running since 2010 (formerly known as Catch & Shoot). Having studied at the École Publique de Journalisme de Tours and two universities in North America, he has developed his expertise in French basketball, from the National League to amateur divisions, over the past 20 years. Alongside this, he is also involved in the development of clubs in the Montpellier area.
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