France: "Bouygues, RTL Group, TF1 and the M6 group are putting an end to the planned TF1/ M6 merger"

"Bouygues, RTL Group, TF1 and the M6 group are putting an end to the planned merger of the TF1 and M6 groups announced on 17/05/2021," according to the companies on 16/09/2022.

"This decision comes after the parties were called upon by the board of the Competition Authority on 05 and 06/09/2022 to defend the interest and necessity of the operation," explained the companies.

"Following the discussions with the Authority and despite the additional remedies proposed, it appears that only structural remedies concerning at least the divestiture of the TF1 channel or the M6 channel would be likely to allow the operation to be authorised. The parties therefore concluded that the project no longer had any industrial logic," added the parties.

• "Consequently, in agreement with the other parties, Bouygues has decided to terminate the review process of the operation before the French Competition Authority.
• The parties deplore the fact that the French Competition Authority did not take into account the extent and speed of the changes in the French audiovisual sector.
• They remain convinced…