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French Conseil d’Etat cancels D8’s acquisition by Canal+
Pascale Paoli-Lebailly | 24-12-2013
Pascale Paoli-Lebailly | 24-12-2013
As expected, the French State Council (Conseil d’Etat) has cancelled the acquisition of free DTT channel D8, and D17 both formerly owned by Bolloré, by Canal+ Group.
This acquisition, which was submitted to the respect by Vivendi’s subsidiary of a number of obligations, had been given the green light in September 2012 by both French regulator CSA and the country’s Competition Authority.
The French State Council based its current decision on the fact that this green light shows “irregularities” and is “partially illegal in the substance.” The Council requires Canal+ to strengthen broadcast obligations for French films.
The decision will not apply before 1 July 2014. Canal+ Group then has six months to ask the CSA and Competition Authority for a new authorisation to and submit again. This has been seized on by groups TF1 and M6. The French State Council has given credit to both broadcasters whose complaint is mainly based on audiovisual rights and Canal+’s capacity to acquire movies and TV series.
