By SudOuest.fr with AFP
The Senate heard this Monday the leaders of the public audiovisual sector on the risks of a merger between the two private groups TF1 and M6, who saw no objection to it, in the face of fierce competition from streaming platforms.
The proposed merger between TF1 and M6 does not constitute a threat to the public service, according to the leaders of the public audiovisual sector heard by the Senate on Monday, who instead called for strengthening the French audiovisual sector in the face of the financial influence of the streaming giants. “If TF1 and M6 think they have to merge to stay healthy, it’s important that they do so,” said Delphine Ernotte, president of France Télévisions, before the senatorial commission of inquiry dedicated to media concentration in France. .
“We must defend the television media in a world where the media offer is much wider”, she argued, referring to the few players present on the French television market, divided between the public service, represented by France Télévisions, and “a few private groups” of which “the most important are TF1 and M6”.
In 2021, the France Télévisions group (France 2, France 3, France 5, France 4, Franceinfo) recorded an audience share of 28.9% and the Franco-German public channel Arte 2.9%. Opposite, the audience share of the TF1 group (TF1, TMC, TFX, TF1 Séries films, LCI) reached 37.7% and that of the M6 group (M6, W9, 6ter, Gulli) 14.3%.
To be able to carry out their merger project, TF1 and M6 will have to sell several of their channels or give up a TNT frequency to comply with the regulations according to which a group can hold a maximum of 7 channels.
Streaming, main competitor
Delphine Ernotte, however, recalled the need for “safeguards” to avoid any effect of “eviction” of other players on both sports rights and advertising. “What I see is that today, our main competitors are streaming players,” like Spotify, added Sibyle le Veil, CEO of Radio France, which dominates radio audiences in France.
With “other private actors, […] we face the same challenges”, in particular the “risk of disruption” which “makes the Gafa come between us and our public”, she explained.
Bruno Patino, chairman of the executive board of Arte France, for his part declared that he did not see “really quite heavy consequences” in a TF1-M6 merger as long as “rules” are fixed. The latter also mentioned “an asymmetry that weighs” on a daily basis in favor of American platforms.