Unsurprisingly, Canal+ is a bit unhappy since ARCOM’s decision not to renew the TNT frequency of its C8 channel. As a reminder, from March 1, 2025 it will be replaced by another one, mainly because of the numerous problems and fines caused by Cyril Hanna’s TPMP show.
Protesting against this choice to deprive the viewer”The first TNT channel“, Canal+ made another strong decision: to withdraw its four pay channels on its own.
Because of this, the channels CANAL+, CANAL+ Cinéma, CANAL+ Sport, Planète are affected. All of these will no longer be accessible to Canal+ subscribers via TNT from June 2025. To explain this decision, Vincent Bolloré’s group highlights that “Increasingly restrictive tax and regulatory environment for the group in France.“
In addition to the return of C8 from TNT which comes “Unbalance the activity of your pay channels on DTT.“, Canal+ is complaining about two things in particular here. The first is the increase in its taxes paid to CNC. The second is the possible elimination of the beneficial VAT rate from which it benefits. Canal + nevertheless emphasizes that “Leading financier of French cinema.“
Resolution for affected users
Today, a few Canal+ subscribers (about 700,000) are forced to watch channels only via DTT, especially useful when there is no satellite dish or Internet access.
However, for them Canal+ indicates that “The group will provide them with the necessary equipment so that they can continue to enjoy all the programs broadcast on their channels in other ways.“Thus it is a question of internet/OTT access via satellite, ADSL/fibre to telecom operators, or even the Canal+ application on all connected screens.
If the group’s other channels, namely CStar and CNews, remain in place, the withdrawal of four other Canal+ channels from DTT is a real boon for new channels that will be able to take over the frequencies. Note that in 2025, two Ouest France projects will be added.
