Canal+ Group says it’s been forced to abandon the retransmission of TF1 and its digital channels after TF1 Group announced plans to review its commercial requirements.
“The TF1 Group, on the strength of its dominant position, is demanding in particular the payment of a very substantial remuneration for its free DTT channels: TF1, TMC, TFX, TF1 Séries Films and LCI,” the Vivendi-owned unit said in a statement.
“Faced with these unfounded and unreasonable demands for channels that are accessible to all free of charge and that must remain so, the CANAL+ Group, a long-standing partner of the TF1 Group, is forced to give up broadcasting these channels in mainland France.”
TF1 is a rightsholder of the upcoming World Cup, but Canal was quick to point out beIN Sports, holds all the rights to the competition and is available over its pay-TV platform.