French anti-trust watchdog launches probe into TF1-M6 merger

The French anti-trust watchdog has announced an investigation into the proposed merger between TF1 and M6.

In comments to BFM Business, Isabelle de Silva, President of the French Competition Authority, said that the body will make its decision on the merger by next summer.

The merger, announced last month, will bring France’s two leading commercial broadcasters under one roof in response to the accelerating challenges from global platforms. 

The companies said that the proposed merger would create a French media group “with the broadest TV, radio, digital, content production and technology offering to the benefit of all viewers and the French audiovisual industry.”

A focus of the tie-up will be the creation of a French streaming champion, with the pair already partnered on SVOD service Salto. If and when approved, the broadcasters will move to combine their respective catchup services MyTF1 and 6play, and launch a standalone SVOD service.