French Competition Authority Clears TF1 Channel Acquisitions

PARIS: France’s competition authority has approved TF1’s acquisition of the digital channels TMC and NT1, but has attached conditions to the deal. 

The market-leading French broadcaster has been awaiting regulatory clearance to acquire 40 percent of TMC (bringing its stake to 80 percent) and all of NT1 from the AB Group for 192 million euros. In approving the deal, the regulatory authority expressed its concerns about TF1’s dominance in the acquisition of content and in the ad market. Conditions attached to the acquisition include limiting repeat broadcasts on the channels, facilitating the transfer of secondary rights to French movies and series to other outlets, restricting cross-promotion on the three channels, and maintaining separate ad sales teams for TF1 and the digital channels.

TF1 said it "does not accept the case put forward by the authority in its decision, especially as regards the position of TF1 in the advertising market, in broadcasting rights acquisition markets, and in the future development of the French broadcasting industry." However, it is accepting the conditions for a maximum of five years. The group is still awaiting approval from CSA.