France Telecom is threatening an official complaint against CanalSat over the packaging of its channels. The IPTV operator says that while cable operators are free to distribute the channels individually, it is being forced to bundle them together.
Herve Payan, senior vice president of content partnership, says France Telecom has already sent letters with the European Commission and the competition authorities in a bid to receive equitable access.
The launch of IPTV services in France has bolstered the subscriptions to the DTH platforms, securing distribution in areas where cable is not available and the installation of satellite dishes often impractical.