TF1, Orange Unable to Reach Distribution Agreements

   By Marc Bisbal Arias 
 

Television Francaise 1 SA (TFI.FR) said Thursday that it wasn't able to reach an agreement with Orange (ORA.FR) regarding its MYTF1 service and unencrypted channels.

The company said it is "disappointed," given that it was able to reach deals with Altice NV (ATC.AE)-Societe Francaise du Radiotelephone last November and with Bouygues SA (EN.FR) this January.

The proposed terms of those agreements were equivalent to the ones proposed to Orange, TF1 said.

The current contracts TF1 has with Orange expired Wednesday, so going forward, Orange is no longer authorized to sell MYTF1 or TF1's unencrypted television channels to subscribers, the French media company said.

TF1 said that it intends to use all legal means at its disposal to enforce its rights given that Orange is continuing to use its channels commercially without a contract.

However, TF1 Chief Executive Gilles Pelisson said that the company's "objective is still to reach a balanced and fair agreement."

Commercial discussions between TF1 and Orange started nearly two years ago. The talks led to TF1 proposing an offer in July 2016 that combined access to its unencrypted channels with the MYTF1 service.

Write to Marc Bisbal Arias at [e-mail]

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

February 01, 2018 02:48 ET (07:48 GMT)

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