Advanced Television

Competition OK for France’s Salto SVoD

August 13, 2019

By Colin Mann

Following the favourable opinion from French audiovisual regulator the CSA (Conseil supérieur de l’audiovisuel) on July 17th and the authorisation issued August 12th by the Autorité de la concurrence, France’s national competition regulator, public service broadcasters TF1, M6 and France Télévisions have announced that the Salto SVoD joint venture will be able to start operations. The go-ahead mirrors that given by UK broadcast regulator Ofcom to UK PSBs BBC and ITV for their BritBox SVoD joint venture.

Salto’s commercial offer is scheduled to be launched in the first quarter of 2020. The project will be developed in compliance with the commitments given to the Competition Authority.

The partners say the launch of Salto will represent a major milestone for the French audiovisual sector challenged by head-on competition from international platforms. With Salto, the France Télévisions, M6 and TF1 groups will pool their resources in an ambitious local response to evolving consumers expectations, while further strengthening their active participation in the French and European creative industries.

“Now that Salto has been approved, we will at last be able to put together Team France in broadcasting, which I have been longing for,” commented Delphine Ernotte Cunci, CEO of France Télévisions. “The launch of the platform will very soon give us what we need to compete against international players on our own territory. And it will be a new way for the French and par creative industries to engage with their public.”

“I am pleased that this project is becoming a reality, embodying as it does a new ambition for the French broadcasting industry,” added Gilles Pélisson, CEO of the TF1 group. “The Antitrust Authority’s ruling is a very positive sign, as it demonstrates that the authorities awareness for the need to support and accompany industry players in making the necessary innovative changes in order to face new challenges.”

“This ruling finally gives us the opportunity to work together to develop an offer and a platform that are in phase with changing usage,” noted Nicolas de Tavernost, Chairman of the Executive Board of M6 Group. “Our channels are popular with French people, our content is attractive and our technology is very advanced: all reasons to welcome the forthcoming launch of an ambitious joint offer like Salto.”

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