The two French television groups TF1 and M6 are calling off their planned merger.
The concessions offered were not enough for the French competition authority, Bouygues, TF1, M6 and RTL Group announced on Friday.
After talks with the antitrust authorities, structural changes such as the sale of the TF1 or M6 transmitters would have given the go-ahead.
"The parties have therefore come to the conclusion that the planned merger no longer has any strategic reasons." The Bouygues conglomerate is the mother of TF1, M6 belongs to the RTL Group, which in turn is a subsidiary of the Bertelsmann Group.
He said: "Bertelsmann does not share the attitude of the French competition authority and sees it as a missed opportunity for the French media market in competition with the global platforms."
The French competition authority had already thwarted the plans at the end of July and demanded high conditions.
According to the antitrust authorities, TF 1 and M6 would dominate three quarters of the French television advertising market.
Further hearings by the cartel guards were scheduled for early September.
RTL and Bouygues wanted to turn TF1 and M6 into a new heavyweight in the French television and video streaming market.
RTL wanted to use the merger to partially exit M6.
Bertelsmann put the M6 stake up for sale in early 2021 with the aim of creating more powerful structures on the French market.
The TF1 and M6 merger plans were announced in May last year.