green light from Arcom for the takeover of two channels by Altice

The audiovisual policeman, Arcom, validated, Friday, September 2, the acquisition by the operator Altice of the TFX and M6 Generation (6ter) channels, from which the TF1 and M6 groups wanted to separate in order to be able to merge.

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According to a press release, the operation is “contractually conditioned” to the marriage project between TF1 and M6, which is entering its home stretch with crucial hearings next week to obtain the agreement of the Autorité de la concurrence. The latter had, for its part, given its agreement in July to the acquisition of the two chains.

The same audiovisual group cannot hold more than seven national frequencies on DTT, TF1 and M6 had decided to separate from the two channels with the lowest audience, and to return the one used by the Paris Première channel.

More new programs

Altice, which already owns BFMTV and RMC, for its part, has undertaken to offer more new programs on these two channels.

On channel 11 of TNT, that of TFX, the group of Patrick Drahi, owner of SFR, has undertaken to broadcast each year “a minimum volume of 1,200 hours of programs in first broadcast on the free terrestrial television channels”, in his letter made public by Arcom. It reinforces “the existing commitment, of 456 hours of new programs, broadcast between 2 p.m. and 11 p.m.”says Altice.

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On channel 22, that of 6ter, Altice has undertaken to broadcast “a minimum volume of 900 hours of programs in first broadcast on the free terrestrial television channels, i.e. an increase of 125% of the current commitment (400 hours)”.

Other commitment: Altice “will increase the supply of information” on the TFX channel, without making it a news channel. In addition, the channel will devote “at least four first parts of the evening on programs other than entertainment and whose broadcast begins between 8:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.”.

Finally, Altice “undertakes to maintain the contribution to the cinematographic creation of channel 11 and to the animated works of channel 22”.

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The World with AFP