French court confirms decision against CanalSat

A French superior court has confirmed a judgement by the Nanterre Tribunal de Commerce last December obliging pay-TV broadcaster CanalSat to stop privileging its information channel i>Tele over that of rival BFM TV via a default setting on its set-top boxes.

The Versailles Court of Appeal agreed with NextRadioTV-owned BFM TV’s claim that CanalSat’s setting of i>Tele as the default channel that appeared when set-tops were switched off and on again constituted unfair competition. NextRadioTV said it had not ruled out seeking damages from CanalSat.