The French Lagardare Interactive group has decided to drop its youth channel Canal J from the digital terrestrial pay platform, confirmed MD Didier Quillot. The distribution costs, estimated at €5 million per year, are not offset by the income.
Earlier, the AB Group decided to drop AB1 from the platform (see also Broadband TV News passim) citing the same reason. The broadcasters have not released any subscriber figures, but CanalSat claims 600,000 subscribers to its terrestrial pay platform. Both Canal J and AB1 are part of a smaller platform, which also includes Paris Premiere, LCI, Planete, TF6 and Eurosport.
The French media authority will now have to invite new applications to fill the two vacant spots on the platform. Canal J will continue to be available on satellite, cable and IPTV.
