French thematic channel Motors TV has been placed in a so-called ‘procedure de sauvegarde’ (safeguard procedure).
The website Procedure Collective notes that the broadcaster has asked for protection by the Tribunal De Commerce De Nanterre. The procedure was granted on May 31,according to Actu Legales.
Under French law, when a business is in serious difficulty with payments such a procedure may stave off bankruptcy. This involves formal negotiations with creditors under judicial supervision to help the company reorganise.
Just recently, Motors TV stopped broadcasting on the Astra 2G satellite, which implies distribution in the UK on the Sky, Virgin media, Freeview and Freesat platforms has been terminated.
Broadband TV News tried to reach Motors TV for comment on the news, but so far the channel has not responded. (Thursday July 14 is a public holiday in France, Bastille Day or quatorze juilliet)
However, its Dutch representative said that the safeguard procedure will take six months “to protect the channel and its employees.” Meanwhile, the broadcaster is refinancing its operations.
Distribution is not impacted by the procedure and the channel returned to Sky in the UK, according to the spokesperson in the Netherlands
