LCI may go free-to-air

French pay TV news and information channel LCI may seek an opportunity for free-to-air distribution on the country’s digital-terrestrial platform, according to local press.

According to Le Figaro newspaper, the channel’s owner TF1 may seek to move from pay to free on the DTT platform in response to the decision by pay TV operator CanalSat not to renew an exclusive distribution contract with the channel, leading to a need to find new sources of income for the channel.

LCI would need to find an estimated €20 million in advertising income to achieve breakeven as a free-to-air channel.