CanalSat programming contracts “anti-competitive”

An investigation by France’s competition regulator believes the supply arrangements between broadcasters TF1, M6 and Lagardère and pay-TV operator CanalSat to be anti-competitive, according to a report in French financial daily Les Echos.

The regulator’s permanent rapporteur, Frederick Amiel, has just delivered the conclusions of an investigation into the exclusive supply contracts to the parties concerned. According to Les Echos, the 300-page report has found that the contracts between the broadcasters and the pay-TV operator constitute an abuse of its dominant position in the pay-TV market by CanalSat by effectively stymieing competition from telecom players trying to develop their own pay-TV offers.

The regulator must make a final decision on the matter by the spring of next year.