TF1 will file a complaint against Canal +, learned franceinfo Monday, September 5 from the television group, a subsidiary of Bouygues. “We are not going to let ourselves be taken from the audience and leave our spectators without the possibility of looking at our antennas without reacting“, says Didier Casas, general secretary of the TF1 group, guest of franceinfo.
>> The conflict between Canal+ and TF1 summarized in four acts
Canal+, a subsidiary of Vivendi, announced on Friday September 2, to give up the broadcasting of the free channels of the TF1 group (TF1, TMC, TFX, TF1 Séries Films and LCI) in metropolitan France, due to commercial requirements deemed “unfounded and unreasonable” of TF1 as part of the renewal of the distribution contract between the two parties.
franceinfo: Canal+ accuses you of being too greedy. Is it correct ?
Didier Casas: I would first like to say to the viewers that we are sorry for what is happening. We are there for absolutely nothing. We are like them completely taken hostage by the decision of Canal+ and frankly, it is very annoying. There is a commercial dispute between TF1 and Canal+, but above all, there are millions of French people who only receive DTT channels, including TF1, via the satellite operated by Canal+ and who can no longer watch at all. They have no other options.
So it’s not your fault?
The logic is quite simple. The contract we had with Canal+ has expired. It must be renewed. It’s a contract, like in a lot of things you buy, there are things that are standard and things that are optional. Canal+ would like the series. It is very good. She would want all the options, but the options,”it costs me too much“. They don’t have to take options! The numbers that are quoted over 50% are totally fanciful.
Canal+ says it has absolutely no reason to pay millions for channels that are free. How do you react ?
TF1 is a free channel, but free for viewers. Of course, this will not change, but on the other hand, TF1 is not free for people who take up the signal to sell it. They have every right to do so. But when Orange, Free, SFR, Bouygues Telecom take over the TF1 signal to sell it to their customers, they pay us, TF1, for our signal and our programs. It’s the same thing for Canal+.
Is the tariff offered to Canal+ the same as for all the other operators?
Of course, these are the same contracts. We are required by law to ensure that the contracts are exactly the same.
TF1 suffers with 15% less audience on average. The 20 hours was even beaten by that of France 2 twice. What are you saying this morning? We are ready to negotiate with Canal?
Canal+ claims to be the victim of a situation. The truth is the reverse. We can clearly see today that Canal+ is a very important player. We have extremely significant audience impacts which are causing us damage that we will not let pass. We are not going to be taken in by the audience and leave our viewers without the possibility of looking at our antennas, without reacting. So there is a very significant prejudice. Why ? Simply because Canal is central in this country. We are very happy to be able to be broadcast on Canal+, but Canal+ demands things that we cannot give it. He is treated exactly like all the other distributors of the TF1 group.
How can everyone be better informed?
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