Advanced Television

m6

TF1/M6 merger under threat?

A report in French newspaper Le Figaro quotes the nation’s Association of Advertisers (UDM) saying that they do not see TV advertising and digital advertising as substitutable. This is perceived as a negative for the proposed merger between French commercial TV broadcaster TF1 and smaller rival M6. A note from investment bank Exane/BNPP says that […]

January 25, 2022By Chris Forrester

Bids open for TF1/M6 DTT nets

The upcoming TF1-M6 merger entails the disposal of a number of FTA DTT networks. According to reports, the sale of kids’ service Gulli and 6ter and of entertainment channels TFX and TF1 Séries Films have been attracting bids of between €30 million and €150 million. TF1 Séries Films would be auctioned at €30 million, TFX […]

January 14, 2022From Pascale Paoli-Lebailly in Paris

Salto: ‘Fewer than 300,000 subs’

French SVoD service Salto has marked its first anniversary substantially below its objective of one million subscribers in year one and is well below subscription numbers of rival services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney+, according to reports. Launched in October 2020 by groups TF1, M6 and France Télévisions, the joint-venture, which has […]

January 6, 2022From Pascale Paoli-Lebailly in Paris

France: Media regulator Arcom launches  

Born out of a merger between TV regulatory body the Conseil supérieur de l’audiovisuel (CSA) and online anti-piracy authority Haute Autorité pour la diffusion des œuvres et la protection des droits sur internet (Hadopi), the new French media regulator Arcom came into being on January 1st. The new watchdog is overseen by Roch-Olivier Maistre, former […]

January 5, 2022From Pascale Paoli-Lebailly in Paris

Molotov agrees M6 distribution deal

Molotov has ended its streaming dispute with M6 ​​Group and agreed a new distribution deal. The French TV platform now will be able to continue hosting the M6, W9, 6Ter and Gulli channels, but only as part of its paid offers. From December 18th, Molotov users will have to pay to watch M6 channels with […]

December 17, 2021

Molotov must pay €7m to M6 and cease streaming

French OTT platform Molotov has been forbidden by a Paris Court to stream M6’s channels (M6, W9, 6ter), which have been distributed without authorisation over the last three years. Molotov must also pay €7 million to M6 Group, for breaching the rights. An amount of €15,000 has been added for brand infringement, as Molotov had […]

December 10, 2021

Kretinsky takes 5% TF1 stake

Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky has raised his stake in TF1 to 5.05 per cent through his Luxembourg-based company Vesa Equity Investment, which has been owning a minority share since 2019. Kretinsky envisages further investment, justifying his move by expressing confidence in the French economy and its outlook. “TF1 is a company in which we believe […]

September 14, 2021From Pascale Paoli-Lebailly in Paris

France: 6Play becomes AVoD platform

On the heels of TF1 launching its new AVoD service Stream, M6 Group has announced plans to strengthen its catch-up TV platform 6Play into an AVoD platform offering more original content. “M6 wants to migrate 6Play from a catch-up TV service to a real AVoD offering based on our current 20 million users” revealed Frédéric […]

July 9, 2021From Pascale Paoli-Lebailly in Paris

TF1, Groupe M6 sign merger agreements

Following the proposed merger between French commercial media groups TF1 and M6, their two parent  companies Groupe Bouygues and RTL Group, have confirmed the signing of agreements related to the deal that seeks to create a French TV giant able to compete internationally. The employee representative bodies of Groupe Bouygues, Groupe TF1 and Groupe M6 […]

July 9, 2021From Pascale Paoli-Lebailly in Paris

RTL, Talpa in Dutch merger

In a move that they say will create a strong Dutch cross-media group across TV, streaming, radio, print and digital, pan-European broadcaster RTL Group and TV production company Talpa Network have agreed to merge their broadcasting and affiliated media businesses in the Netherlands. In the growing competition with global tech platforms, they say the merger […]

June 23, 2021