Advanced Television

TF1

M6 shareholders approve TF1 merger

At the presentation of the 2022 Q1 results, M6’s shareholders have overwhelmingly approved the proposed merger with fellow French commercial media group TF1, to form a Bouygues-TF1 entity. The M6-TF1 association, which will create to a French media giant in terms of channel distribution, advertising and audiovisual rights, is set to close in early 2023, […]

April 27, 2022From Pascale Paoli-Lebailly in Paris

Salto on Prime Video

French SvoD service Salto, the joint venture between TF1, M6 and France Télévisions, has concluded a strategic partnership with Prime Video in Europe, allowing all Amazon Prime customers to subscribe to Salto directly from Prime Video Channels as of early May 2022. For €6.99, new subscribers will have access to films, TV series, docuumentary and […]

April 14, 2022From Pascale Paoli-Lebailly in Paris

French Senate eyes tougher plurality rules

French broadcasting rules and obligations are probably the toughest in Europe, and are likely to become even more rigid. The French senate has published a report on media concentration, which some observers say was prompted by the merger proposals between TF1 and M6 and the Vivendi take-over bid of Lagardère. A report to clients from […]

April 4, 2022

Merged TF1, M6 to take control of Salto

Following the May 17th 2021 announcement of the proposed merger between the TF1 and M6 groups, the France Télévisions group expressed its wish, if the merger is completed, to divest its equity interest in Salto (the subscription video on demand service launched in October 2020 and owned in equal shares by France Télévisions, TF1 and […]

March 25, 2022By Colin Mann

M6, Altice discuss 6ter sale

French commercial broadcaster M6 Group has confirmed that it has received a put option for the 6ter channel from Altice Media, and that it has granted it exclusive negotiation rights. The sale of 6ter would be part of the proposed merger of the M6 and TF1 Groups, announced on May 17th, 2021. Following this merger, […]

March 1, 2022By Colin Mann

TF1 net profit up four-fold

Ahead of the potential TF1-M6 merger, French commercial broadcaster TF1 has multiplied its 2021 net profit by four compared to the 2020 pandemic year to €225.3 million versus €78.1 million, and achieving 45 per cent growth compared to 2019. The group posted consolidated revenue up 16.6 per cent year-on-year to €2.427 billion, and increasing by […]

February 11, 2022From Pascale Paoli-Lebailly in Paris

TF1 channels now on Molotov pay

French OTT platform Molotov has revealed that TF1’s FTA channels will no longer be distributed via its free-of-charge service. TF1, TF1 Séries Films, TMC, TFX, as well as catch-up content will instead move onto its paid offering. In addition, Molotov will also cease distributing TF1’s pay-TV channels TV Breizh, Ushuaïa and Histoire TV. The situation […]

February 8, 2022From Pascale Paoli-Lebailly in Paris

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

Survey: ITV, Eutelsat are takeover targets

Bloomberg, in what investment bank Exane/BNPP describes as an “informal survey”, has suggested that Eutelsat and ITV are “most likely takeover” candidates. The bank suggests that ITV has been in the Bloomberg poll fairly frequently over the past ten years. Other companies named as possible takeover targets include KPN, Telecom Italia, Invit, Nokia, ProSiebenSat. 1 […]

January 18, 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