This Thursday, the Canal+ group announced a monumental shift in its broadcasting strategy. Starting in June 2025, it will withdraw its four pay channels—Canal+, Canal+ Cinéma, Canal+ Sport, and Planète—from the terrestrial digital television (TNT). This decision follows the Autorité de régulation de la communication audiovisuelle et numérique’s (Arcom) decision to not renew the TNT frequency for C8, a subsidiary of the Canal+ group.
Earlier in July, Arcom announced its decision not to renew the TNT frequencies for both C8 and NRJ12, with their signals set to cease by February 2025. This has led to a fervent and ultimately unsuccessful legal struggle by the affected channels to overturn what Canal+ has described as a "deep injustice." The group cites the exclusion from negotiating conventions with Arcom as an irreversible impediment.
Canal+ has also expressed grievances over the growing regulatory and fiscal pressures in France, which have influenced its decision. The group pointed to an increase in its tax contributions to the Centre National du Cinéma (CNC), looming threats over its VAT rate due to its role as the main financier of French cinema, and the consequential eviction of C8 from the TNT. These factors collectively constitute a harsh environment for Canal+’s operations in the domestic market.
In response, Canal+ aims to focus on other broadcasting modes like satellite, ADSL, fiber, and its proprietary application, Canal+. This strategic redirection will directly impact its TNT subscribers, who will be provided with the necessary equipment to access content through these alternative modes. This move represents a significant pivot in Canal+’s strategy, potentially altering the face of French television broadcasting.
The forthcoming withdrawal marks a pivotal moment for the French audiovisual landscape. With 26.8 million subscribers across 52 countries, a substantial portion abroad, the repercussions for Arcom’s regulatory framework and for French media consumption could be profound. Canal+’s announcement underscores the ongoing battle between media conglomerates and regulatory bodies over broadcasting rights and the future of television in a digital age.
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