For Canal+, revenge is a dish that is eaten without delay. Scalded by Arcom's decision not to renew the frequency of C8 and annoyed by the tax obligations linked to its financing of French cinema, the audiovisual group will withdraw from June 2025 its four pay channels (Canal+, Canal+) from DTT. Cinema, Canal+ Sport, Planète).
“Drawing the consequences of the withdrawal of the C8 channel, the first DTT channel, by Arcom and an increasingly restrictive tax and regulatory environment for the group in France, Canal+ announces the withdrawal of its pay channels from the TNT »according to a press release from the group published Thursday.
“Only Canal+ subscribers who are still on TNT will be affected”it is specified. The impact for them will be reduced: the group “will offer them the necessary equipment so that they can continue to benefit from all of the programs on their channels on other broadcast modes (satellite, ADSL and fiber via telecom operators, Internet/OTT from the Canal+ application on all connected screens)”. DTT remains the only mode of television reception for nearly 20% of households equipped with a set. Thirty national channels are currently broadcast on this channel. Paris Première (M6 group) will be the only one to remain paying.
Arcom's decision in July not to renew the frequency of C8 caused an explosion in the audiovisual sector, with some seeing it as a form of censorship, others expressing their satisfaction. By ousting C8, which has a fine of 7.6 million euros due to the excesses of host Cyril Hanouna, the regulator had sent a signal to the channels of the need to respect their obligations in terms of controlling the antenna in particular.
The C8 channel pays a high price for its slippages and loses its TNT frequency
Canal+ contests the increase in its VAT rate
A subsidiary of Vivendi, in the fold of conservative billionaire Vincent Bolloré, the audiovisual heavyweight will however keep two free-to-air channels on TNT after the announced disappearance of C8 on February 28: the news channel CNews and CStar, mixing music and magazine. No longer having to broadcast nationally on DTT will result in savings of 10 to 15 million euros per frequency.
TNT frequencies: the summary appeals of C8, NRJ12 and Le Média rejected
Canal+, which had already threatened on several occasions to leave TNT, is also contesting “the increase in its tax paid to the CNC” (National Cinema Center) and “threats to its VAT rate, which is directly linked to its status as the leading financier of French cinema”. VAT has, in fact, increased in 2022 from 10 to 20% for some of its offers, a rate that the group contests. The dispute with the tax authorities concerns 655 million euros. However, its financing obligations should not change.
-Another point: thanks to its presence on TNT, Canal+ benefits from a competitive advantage since the channel can broadcast films for six months after their theatrical release, compared to 15 months for Netflix. If Canal+'s contribution to the financing of French cinema were to be less, after this departure from TNT, the situation could change.
Reallocation of DTT frequencies
Thursday's development comes as Arcom must finalize in the coming days the process of reallocation of 15 DTT frequencies in 2025, of which C8 has been excluded. But Canal+, Canal+ Cinéma, Canal+ Sport and Planète were selected. The authority will then have to rule on the numbering of channels, an issue possibly renewed with this withdrawal of Canal+.
According to an observer of the audiovisual sector, this release of TNT is “ the chronicle of a predicted end. » Canal+ had been talking about it for four years, and the movement seemed “inevitable”, as the group has moved towards a digital platform. In 2020, Canal+ renewed its frequency on channel 4 for a voluntarily reduced period of three years, then eighteen months, until June 2025.
In the Arcom preselection, two newcomers were preferred to C8 and NRJ12: OFTV (Ouest-France group) and RéelsTV (CMI France, from Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky). The renewal of frequencies has also stirred up the political sphere. Among other left-wing leaders, LFI deputy Aurélien Saintoul, rapporteur for a commission of inquiry into TNT in early 2024, deplored in July that Arcom had accepted the candidacy of CNews. The channel is accused by many left-wing politicians of promoting far-right ideas, which it disputes. Also owned by Canal+, CNews has reached the top step of the podium of continuous news channels several times in recent months.
The group's decision also comes four days before a decisive general meeting for the proposed split of Vivendi into four independent entities, including the company Canal+. In the event of a green light from shareholders, Canal+ will be listed on the London Stock Exchange from December 16.
(With AFP)
