The carriage dispute between TF1 and its distribution partners has reached a new high with Canal+ pulling the plug on TF1 channels.
In a press release Canal+ announced that that it was terminating the distribution of the TF1 group’s channels because it could not reach a commercial agreement with the group, whose “unreasonable and unfounded financial requirements” it denounced.
“The Canal+ group regrets the stalemate in the negotiations with the TF1 group after eighteen months of discussions and is forced to interrupt the distribution of channels TF1, TMC, TFX, TF1 Séries Films, LCI and their associated services,” according to the statement.
TF1, which had previously provided its free-to-air channels free of charge for distribution via cable and IPTV, now wants to obtain carriage fees from operators who retransmit them to their subscribers via their “boxes”.
The group has put forward its new “TF1 premium” offer, enriched with new features and offered to internet service providers, cable operators and satellite operators. So far, TF1 signed distribution contracts with SFR and Bouygues Telecom, but not with Canal+ or Orange, with whom the broadcaster is also in open conflict.
Canal+’s decision reflects “the intransigence of the TF1 group, which is abusing its market power, and in particular TF1, to unilaterally force its distributors, including the Canal+ group, to pay to continue distributing its channels available free of charge on DTT and on the internet”.
The Canal+ Group reaffirms its desire to be able to broadcast the free-to-air channels of the TF1 Group, but does not intend to pay for the broadcasting of these channels.
