ON DECRYPT
What is happening between Free and BFMTV? Since Tuesday midnight, the continuous news channel (like the other channels of the group Altice, RMC Discovery and RMC Story), are no longer available directly on the Freebox. "The origin of the conflict is Altice (...) who asked for money from Free to continue to broadcast these channels," says Europe 1 Elsa Bembaron, journalist Figaro , at the microphone of Philippe Vandel . "We talk about 4 to 6 million a year, but Free does not hear at all this this ear: he believes that these are free channels on DTT".
"Let's go get the pennies where they are"
Why did Altice suddenly claim that money? "The argument is quite simple," says the journalist. "TV channels are making less money with ads, because there is more competition for a variety of reasons - including Netflix - and Telecom operators are still relatively profitable." Altice's boss said: 'Let's get the money where they are'. "
The negotiations, which began in April, were arbitrated by both the Higher Audiovisual Council (CSA) and the courts. At the end of July, two decisions were rendered. "Basically, the CSA authorizes the free channels to ask a remuneration ... But also authorizes the operators to not diffuse if they do not want to pay", details Elsa Bembaron. "The high court side, the decision says that if Free continues to broadcast without agreement with BFM, it is in violation of intellectual property law."
"The calculation was quick"
Justice therefore threatens financial penalties. "It's 100,000 euros per day, per day and per channel," says the specialist. "If Free had not cut the signal it was therefore 300,000 euros a day.In 13.5 days, he would have paid 4 million.So the calculation was done quickly, it was better to cut if there was disagree."
Such climbing is not new, recalls Elsa Bembaron again. "Canal + also cut TF1 for a few days (in the fall of 2018, ed .) There are other examples in other countries where there are quite often cuts: it's a bit like a weapon. an arm wrestling (...) and we'll see who loses the most on arrival. "
Exactly, which of the two protagonists has the most to lose? "Free knows that there are people who are addicted to BFM," begins the journalist Le Figaro. "But they made a long list for their subscribers, to explain how to find the channel", including plugging his Freebox directly on the TNT antenna. And BFM? Since Tuesday, the channel broadcasts advertisements encouraging to look at it via the boxes of the operators "authorized" ... "And the competition, it is SFR ... Either the same house as BFM", concludes Elsa Bembaron.