Orange wants Canal on satellite

Orange has taken the Canal+ Group before the media authority CSA in order to win the right to distribute the news channel i-Télé and the free-to-air windows of the Canal+ premium channel on its DTH platform.

Earlier this year, Orange launched its satellite bouquet in direct opposition to CanalSat as well as a basket of premium channels, Cinema Series and Orange Sport, in competition with Canal+.

Orange claims the refusal of the Canal+ Group to allow distribution of its channels is “an anomaly”, as Orange has the rights to carry the Canal channels on its IPTV platform, but not on satellite. The free-to-air windows of the Canal+ premium channel are also available free-to-air on the digital terrestrial network. Orange and its parent France Telecom does not want to comment on the case, in order nt to “fuel the controversy”.

From its part, the Canal Group complains that it has no access to the premium channels from Orange with movies and sports. Until now, the new premium offer from Orange TV is exclusively available on the Orange IPTV and DTH platforms. Other IPTV operators, including Free, Iliad and Neuf, also want access to these channels on their respective platforms.

The CSA has two months in which to reach a decision.