The merger between TF1 and M6 stays threatened after hearings by the Competitors Authority

The assorted stakeholders within the operation had been heard by the Competitors Authority on Tuesday. Slightly over a month from its verdict, the school of the establishment nonetheless appears to camp on an unfavorable place to the wedding venture between the 2 tv channels.

The proposed merger between TF1 and M6 took a decisive step on Tuesday with the top of the hearings of the events by the Competitors Authority however, in line with a number of sources, the concessions to authorize the operation could possibly be a lot better than anticipated.

With the intention to be celebrated firstly of 2023, the wedding should completely be accepted by the school of this establishment made up of specialists in competitors legislation and representatives of the financial world. He’ll determine in mid-October.

Resist competitors from streaming

Based on a supply acquainted with the matter, the 2 tv teams didn’t arrive in conquered territory on Monday. The Authority’s investigation providers first reiterated their place on the finish of July, when submitting their conclusions to the school: it’s quite unfavorable and with out “actual change”, regardless of the concessions since provided by the chains. , judged this supply.

The Bouygues group (proprietor of TF1) is notably provided to resell the M6 ​​channel: an unacceptable “treatment”, whereas the 2 firms want to be part of forces to higher resist competitors from streaming gamers (Netflix, Disney, Amazon and even Youtube and Tiktok).

Netflix, which needs to launch a less expensive supply financed by promoting this 12 months, may shortly develop into the 4th French TV community, with 200 million euros in annual income, in line with a research revealed on Tuesday by the agency NPA Conseil on the idea of data from the American press.

Curiosity for the takeover of M6

The resale of M6 additionally has the assist of some opponents of the merger venture, who may place themselves to purchase the channel. A number of media magnates had tried in early 2021 to purchase from the RTL group (managed by the German Bertelsmann), together with Vincent Bolloré (by way of Vivendi), Xavier Niel and the Czech entrepreneur Daniel Kretinsky. The curiosity of Mediaset, managed by Silvio Berlusconi, can be talked about.

The Bouygues group, represented by its president Martin Bouygues and its normal supervisor Olivier Roussat, in addition to the CEO of TF1 Gilles Pélisson, had been interviewed at size on Tuesday. Their arguments had been primarily addressed to members of the school from the personal sphere, together with representatives of Plastic Omnium, Eutelsat, Tikehau Capital or Atos, doubtlessly extra inclined to pragmatism than to strict compliance with competitors guidelines.

The wedding of the primary and third channels of the French audiovisual panorama would create a juggernaut, overtaking France TV with greater than 30% of viewers share and representing three-quarters of the tv promoting market. The federal government will finally have the potential of overriding a refusal by the Authority, if it justifies its choice on grounds of normal curiosity.