TF1 sees interest from ISPs in thematic channels

French commercial broadcaster TF1 says it has now received “constructive” offers from ISPs Orange, SFR and Bouygues Telecom to carry its thematic channels from next year.

Until now the channels – Eurosport and Eurosport 2, LCI, TV Breizh, Ushuaïa TV and Histoire – have been distributed exclusively by CanalSat, with TF1 receiving some €60 million a year for carriage, including €15 million for information channel LCI. Canal Plus Group, which has indicated it is no longer willing to pay for LCI, is now considering non-exclusive distribution of the other channels.

TF1 had earlier pushed back the process, which it launched in April, having reportedly failed to secure offers it considered by to be acceptable. The company now says it will enter into negotiations with the operators over possible carriage deals.