France Télévisions and TF1 are claiming compensation of more than €40 million from Canal+.
Les Echos reports that they accuse the Vivendi-owned broadcasters of betraying the media chronology agreement during the first Covid lockdown in March 2020 by choosing to show its programming in the clear.
It adds that the chronology agreement sets the schedule for TV broadcasts of films released in theatres.
Specifically, those that have achieved more than 100,000 admissions in four weeks can be broadcast by Canal+ after eight months and then by free channels after 22 months.
Les Echos notes that Pascal Rogard, the head of the Society of Dramatic Authors and Composers (SACD), earlier accused Canal+ of behaving like a pirate during the first lockdown.