With the legal battle looming between Canal+ and TF1, subscribers to the encrypted channel affected by the disappearance of front-page channels might want to claim a refund or terminate their offer. Unfortunately, this dispute does not constitute a valid reason. Explanations.
We have been talking about it in our columns for a few days now. A legal battle is about to break out between Canal+ and TF1. On September 2, 2022, the encrypted channel announced the end of the broadcast of the free channels of the TF1 group, such as TF1, TMC, TFX or even LCI, on its various services.
The justification for Canal+? An increase in prices demanded by TF1 far too high, of the order of 50% if we are to believe the latest statements by Maxime Saada, chairman of the executive board of the Canal+ group. To hope to obtain the return of its chains on the Canal+ offers, TF1 decided to sue the encrypted channel. In return, Canal+ has just lodged a complaint against TF1 with the Nanterre commercial court for abuse of a dominant position.
The matter will therefore be settled before the courts, and in the meantime, hundreds of thousands of Canal+ subscribers find themselves in front of a black screen when they try to access TF1’s free channels. For some, the situation is not dramatic since it is still possible to watch TF1, TMC and others via DTT, their operator’s box or via the MyTF1.fr site or the MyTF1 application.
The disappearance of TF1 channels does not constitute a valid reason for reimbursement
However, the situation is much more complicated for the 1.8 million users of Canal+’s TNT Sat service. Indeed, this service makes it possible to receive DTT channels via satellite dish for those who live in a white area, without Internet connection or TNT. For them, there is no other way to watch the free channels of the TF1 group, apart from this service offered by Canal.
In fact, these aggrieved subscribers might very well ask a partial refund of the price of their offer, or simply cancel. Unfortunately, and as explained by our colleagues from the UFC Que Choisir website, this case is not even a legitimate reason to impose a discount on Canal+, or a termination outside the anniversary dates.
The reason is very simple: the TF1 channels being accessible free of charge by other means and the TNT Sat service being offered free of charge by Canal+, the damage is not considered sufficient and flagrant. In other words, these users have no choice but to be patient.