Xavier Niel and the M6 group clashed this Wednesday before the media regulator, Arcom. Both want to exploit channel 6 of digital terrestrial television (TNT), which the first wants to conquer and the second to maintain.
Each manager was interviewed for an hour and a half. An unprecedented procedure: it is the first time since 1987 and its arrival on the hertzian network that the M6 group has to defend the renewal of its authorization and face a rival.
In an attempt to convince Arcom, Xavier Niel and his teams launched their “Six” project during this hearing. What would Xavier Niel do with channel 6?
• A prime time slot that starts earlier than
A prime time schedule that begins at the latest at 9:00 p.m., contrary to the practice established on DTT for a few years. The return to a more dignified hour is one of Arcom’s battles. “Six” also wants to give a place of honor to the second parts of the evenings that have disappeared a bit.
• The return of “Plus Belle La Vie”
70 nights a year of original French creations and two prime-time nights each week dedicated to original fiction, on Mondays and Saturdays. To finance it, “Six” undertakes to invest 14% of its turnover in heritage creations (series, documentaries). Among the fictions mentioned: the return of “Plus Belle la Vie”, a sitcom and topics such as the paranormal.
• Cinema every Thursday
A movie evening every Thursday night, accompanied by a movie magazine. The channel agrees to invest 4% of its turnover in the purchase of films. The entertainment will air on Monday and Wednesday nights. Friday afternoon will be dedicated to the broadcast of documentaries and music programs.
• Minimum investments
“Guaranteed minimums” set until the channel reaches a sufficient turnover: 70 million euros per year for heritage creation (fiction, documentary), 60 million euros per year for streaming programs, 19 million euros per year for music.
• 200 journalists recruited
Two daily 90-minute briefings at 12:00 and 19:00, with two topical debates each time. To feed these sections, “Six” plans to hire 200 journalists, including 170 in the first year. The newsroom will have the right to veto the appointment of the editorial director to guarantee their independence. An information magazine will be broadcast on Sunday night.
• Free distribution to operators
The “Six” signal will be offered free of charge to distributors (telecommunications operators, OTT platforms) to ensure the widest possible distribution of the channel.
• A “long-term” control
Xavier Niel “personally” agrees to maintain control of the channel for 10 years (where the law only obliges him for 5 years). A response to the failed attempts to sell Bertelsmann, the shareholder of M6, in recent months and which calls into question the long-term maintenance of the German giant in the capital of the channel.
Source: BFM TV
