Will Canal+ stay on DTT? This is the question that the encrypted channel will ask itself in the weeks to come, as negotiations with Arcom open around a renewal of the frequency for the next five years.
Canal+ against the rest of the world, episode 38. In recent years, almost all the cases carried out by the encrypted channel have been conflictual: against the Professional Football League for the rights of Ligue 1, against SVoD platforms for the media chronology, and now against Arcom (ex-CSA). The audiovisual policeman has just launched the authorization renewal procedure for Canal + to broadcast on DTT, tells us The echoes. Except that, as usual, Vincent Bolloré’s group could take the opportunity to try to grab some assets along the way.
At the end of 2020, the fourth channel had already fought with the CSA to negotiate a reduced VAT rate in exchange for its maintenance on DTT. An unsuccessful attempt, but which had allowed him to commit to only three years and not 10 as planned. Since then, the situation has changed. At the time, Canal+ was worried about seeing Netflix and others picking on its advantageous broadcast windows, but negotiations over the media chronology had finally secured it the best possible place for at least three years. No need to negotiate, then? It is to misunderstand Maxime Saada, the chain’s boss, and his teams.
To weigh the pros and cons
As part of these new discussions, Canal+ will have to commit to staying on DTT for the next five years. However, according to the economic daily, opinions would be divided internally on this possibility. While it is true that many subscriber recruitments are made outside of this traditional channel, via telecom operators or satellite, the encrypted channel risks losing its feathers in the migration of the few tens of thousands of subscribers from one medium to another. It will therefore be necessary to assess the relationship between the costs generated by this channel and the income it generates.
On the Arcom side, the stakes are also significant. A renunciation by Canal+ of its frequency would probably sign the end of pay DTT, while M6 is preparing to let go of Paris Première as part of its merger with TF1 – the new entity cannot hold more than seven channels at a time.