The gesture by Canal+ to broadcast its normally encrypted programmes free-to-air had led public broadcaster France Televisions to demand financial compensation.
The move follows earlier complaints by commercial channels TF1 and M6 and the regulator CSA, which warned the move was “likely to alter the balance between free and pay channels”.
There was concern that Canal’s clear broadcast of premium movies might later hurt audiences for transmission on the commercial and public channels.
Le Film Français reports a letter sent by France Televisions to Canal+ stating the premium channel took “the freedom to broadcast works for which you did not have rights in the clear”.
Canal ended its in the clear transmissions on March 31.
