Héloïse Goy, with Alexis Patri 10:48 a.m., March 01, 2022
In the context of the merger of the television groups TF1 and M6, which obliges them to sell three of the ten channels they own together, the two French television giants announce in two press releases that their channels TFX and 6ter (channels 11 and 22 from DTT) fall to the Altice Media group.
This is a new step towards the planned merger of the TF1 and M6 groups.
Their TFX and 6ter channels are officially acquired.
As part of their future union, the TF1 and M6 groups are obliged, according to an audiovisual law, to give up frequencies.
Three in total, out of the ten they have.
After a few months of negotiation, it was finally to the Altice Media group that the two channels were sold, according to press releases from TF1 and M6 published Monday evening.
The amount of the transactions was not disclosed.
>> Find the media newspapers every morning at 9:10 a.m. on Europe 1 as well as in replay and podcast here
On DTT, Altice Media already owns BFMTV, RMC Story and RMC Découverte.
With these two new channels (channel 11 for TFX and channel 22 for 6ter), Patrick Drahi's group will become the second strongest player on DTT, behind the TF1 group.
In all, the five channels will have a cumulative average audience of 11%.
Gulli finally not put up for sale
Altice will not become the owner of these two channels before the end of 2022, or even the beginning of 2023. Because this transaction can only be carried out if Arcom (ex-CSA) and the Autorité de la concurrence give their green light for the merger of the TF1 and M6 groups.
Until then, TFX and 6 ter will therefore not change ownership.
In addition, the Gulli children's channel will ultimately not be put up for sale by M6, as announced a few weeks ago.
Instead, and in order to be able to merge with TF1, the group will return the TNT frequency of its Paris Première channel, which will be maintained on cable and satellite.