Two years later Brussels is making its conclusions

So-called "bonus" are in the sights of the European Commission. Assigned to TF1, M6 and Canal in the Act of 2007, known as the television of the future (read here), they are since the grind the teeth of the other strings. Qualified beneficiaries of "compensatory", they are considered "bonus gifts" historical channels by new entrants of the digital terrestrial television. NRJ, Bollore, or even NextrarioTV denounced the "privileged treatment" enjoyed by the history of PAF.

It is also their initiative that the European Commission is seized of the subject. In October 2008, the delegation of the European Commission in Paris had received representatives of the groups NextradioTV, NRJ, Bollore and AB (sold to TF1 since) from ringing the tocsin. Two years later, Brussels is making its conclusions.

As reported yesterday the "satellifax" letter, the France received the mail of notice to the Commission Wednesday, 24 November. Main argument of Brussels: the criteria of transparency and non-discrimination that fixed for the allocation of frequencies directive competition of the 2002 telecoms package, in this case not been respected. According to this directive, frequency allocations must be made according to criteria "objective, transparent, non-discriminatory and proportionate." Which, for the Commission, is not the case of the resulting French regulations of the Act of 2007. The Commission is also reference in his letter authorizations directive, but on a secondary basis. "This is not the principle of allocation of these strings is questioned, but the procedure", is defended on yesterday in the Ministry of Culture and Communication.

The France has now two months to respond to Brussels. If it fails to convince the General Directorate for competition, it risks a reasoned opinion, by which the Commission asked to change his position. It is still two months to be explained, at the end of which it is likely to a referral to the Court of justice of the European Union by the Commission. "N w e are doubtful that the folder is up to the European Court of justice." "It can be found a solution," hopefully rue de Valois.

Total surprise

Parallel to this proceedings for failure to comply with European regulations, Brussels opened in the fall of a procedure for State against the France aid in the same folder, whereas frequencies have a monetary value and that their allocation of contracts for certain strings by the French State is a matter therefore of public assistance. The France said it was, in her view, a simple compensation of the transition from analog to digital.

TF1, M6 and Canal , the surprise was total yesterday. None of these three chains did comment. With new entrants, the decision of the European Commission is of course welcomed. "M6 and TF1 had continually to fight against the TNT and they are seen to assign a free frequency with their lobbying.""The idea of compensation does not take the road, because analog their authorization was expired a few months only after the complete extinction of the analog," yesterday reminded one of the new entrants of the TNT.

More than ever, one year exactly the total extinction of the analogue frequencies race full swing on the TNT. The Bolloré group bought this year Virgin17, processed on-line Star, while NRJ and NextradioTV do not hide their desire to have new channels in the television of the future, whose success is not denied. In November, according to figures released yesterday by Médiamétrie, the audience share of new DTT channels reached 20.9, or 4 points better in a year.