Orange IPTV probe
January 13, 2009
France's antitrust body is set to investigate exclusive content deals made by ISPs for their IPTV services – a move that could force Orange to open up its IPTV channel offering. The body will review whether deals between ISPs and content producers are anti-competitive, according to France's Ministry of Economy, Industry and Employment
France has 3.6 million French households receiving television via ADSL, and while no company has been singled out, France Telecom's Orange TV has signed a number of exclusive content deals, including those with France Television, HBO, Warner Bros and MGM.
France's competition watchdog in December outlawed Orange's exclusive iPhone carriage arrangement, allowing other operators to sell the handset.