M6 renews deal with Canal+ as TF1 finds TNTSat alternative

French broadcaster M6 has renewed its multi-year carriage deal with pay TV operator Canal+ for the distribution of its free digital-terrestrial and pay TV channels.

The agreement means that M6, W9 6ter and Gulli will continue to be available free-to-view via the Canal+ platform while thematic pay channels Paris Première, téva, M6 Music, Canal J, Tiji RFM TV and MCM will also continue to be available to Canal+ subscribers.

The agreement also covers non-linear digital services associated with the channels and SVOD offering GulliMax.

M6’s deal with Canal+ stands in contrast with the ongoing breakdown in relations between the pay TV operator and France’s other main commercial broadcaster TF1, whose channels Canal+ is not currently distributing following the expiry of the previous agreement.

TF1 recently lost an appeal against a legal ruling that said Canal+ was justified in removing TF1’s free channels not only from its pay TV platform but from free-to-view digital-satellite platform TNTSat, which Canal+ operates.

According to local trade publications, TF1 has found a solution in the shape of transmitting the free channels on the Astra satellite platform at 19.2° East using a transponder operated by Orange-owned media services outfit Globecast.

However, users wishing to access the channels will need to retune their receivers and TF1’s channels will appear with different channel numbers than those utilised previously.