Eurosport withdrawal casts doubt on future of French pay DTT

French media regulator the CSA is expected to respond in the next few days to commercial broadcaster TF1’s request to give up the terrestrial frequency occupied by Eurosport France ahead of completion of its sale to Discovery, reducing the troubled French digital-terrestrial pay TV offering still further. 

Discovery currently owns 20% of Eurosport France alongside its 51% majority stake in the sports network’s international arm. As a non-European group, Discovery is prevented from owning the French operation unless it gives up the DTT frequency.

The French pay DTT platform has suffered from numerous withdrawals of channels and closures over the past six years. Canal+ continues to offer a previous package alongside a mini-package that now comprises only four channels – news service LCI, entertainment channel Paris Première, factual channel Planète+ and Eurosport – for €12.90. The withdrawal of Eurosport will cast a further doubt on the viability of this second package.