Pay-TV giant Canal+ Group has ceased distribution of a number of channels from French broadcaster TF1 Group in France, Switzerland and across Africa after negotiations broke down.
The move comes shortly after TF1 Group and Netflix officially launched a distribution partnership in France. Since June 19, Netflix subscribers in the country have been able to access content from TF1+, the VOD service of France’s largest commercial network, directly within the platform, at no extra cost to their existing subscription.
The launch has given Netflix subscribers access to live broadcasts from five channels, TF1, TMC, TFX, TF1 Séries Films and the 24-hour news channel LCI, alongside thousands of hours of on-demand programming.
Canal+ Group said it “acknowledges that discussions with the TF1 Group have broken down,” and that it would end the distribution of its thematic channels TV Breizh, Ushuaïa TV and Histoire TV in France and Switzerland.
However, Canal+ subscribers in France will continue to receive the TF1, TMC, TFX, TF1 Séries Films and LCI channels, as well as their catch-up services.
Canal+ Group added that it will also cease distributing several of TF1 Group’s channels in Africa. The channels affected are TF1, TMC, TFX, TF1 Séries Films, LCI, Ushuaïa TV and Histoire TV.
Canal+ Group said that “despite several months of negotiations, it was unable to reach a comprehensive agreement, even though it was prepared to improve the terms in every respect for TF1.”
Canal+ Group added it “remains open to dialogue and is willing to resume discussions with a view to reaching an agreement based on reasonable, balanced and sustainable terms that safeguard the interests of both groups.”
TF1 Group said it regretted Canal+’s decision, “which deprives loyal viewers of the channels they value.”
It added that it “reaffirms its commitment to offering as many people as possible, in France and in Africa, access to high-quality, rich and diverse content, and remains fully mobilized to ensure that its audiences, wherever they are, have access to its channels and its content.”
It concluded that Canal+’s decision would lead TF1 Group to “reflect on its distribution partnership strategy in a context of very strong growth in digital distribution.”
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