TF1/M6 merger project: end of hearings, Competition Authority to reach a decision in October 2022

As part of the planned merger of the French free-TV groups TF1 and M6, it has been suggested that the Bouygues group (TF1's parent company) sell the M6 channel in order to reduce the weight of the new entity in the three markets concerned by the merger (advertising, audiovisual production and channel distribution), according to a number of sources interviewed by AFP at the end of the closed-door hearings before the Competition Authority (on 05 and 06/09/2022).

This solution, which is also favoured by some competitors potentially interested in buying the channel, seems unacceptable to TF1 and M6, who want to join forces to better resist competition from streaming platforms, including Netflix and Disney+, which are planning to launch cheaper offers financed by advertising.

The Competition Authority's investigation services remain opposed to the project presented by the parent companies of the groups TF1 (Bouygues) and M6 (RTL Group), despite the proposed concessions on maintaining their advertising departments. The board of the Competition Authority generally follows the opinion of the…