However, the channels intend to "maintain the project as it was presented" and respond to the institution within three weeks, indicated the chairman of the management board of M6, proposed as the future CEO of the new group.
The report points in particular to "significant competition problems" in television advertising, mentioned Mr. de Tavernost, and the "remedies" envisaged to remedy them "would not make it possible to build a coherent industrial project" and would lead the channels to give up their project.
The parties concerned will be heard by the college of the Competition Authority on September 5 and 6, said in press releases the Bouygues groups, the largest shareholder of TF1, and RTL, which owns M6.
The final decision expected in October will be up to this college, which is not required to follow the advice of the investigation services.
A merger of TF1 and M6 would create a French giant in the market for audiovisual rights, channel distribution and television advertising, with around 75% of French turnover in the latter sector.
Announced in May 2021, this project is supposed to be finalized in early 2023, after having also received the agreement of Arcom (ex-CSA), scheduled for November.
The two groups have already begun to put themselves in order to allow their merger.
In particular, they announced the sale of the TFX and 6ter channels to the Altice group and the release of Paris Première's TNT frequency to comply with regulations on media concentration.
TF1 has for its part withdrawn from a certain number of activities linked to marketing and the online press.
© 2022 AFP