M6 to launch DTT channels
Published: 11.19 Europe/London, March 30, 2011 by Chris Dziadul

The French commercial broadcaster M6 has revealed that it plans to launch two new free DTT channels.

Quoted in Les Echos, its CEO Nicolas de Tavernost said that the first would be a general channel that will aim to become one of the top three DTT channels, aiming to emulate the success of W9.

The second would meanwhile be a project that it previously presented back in 2005. Called M6 Famille, it would be aimed at a family audience and offer movies, fiction and magazine programming.

Tavernost added that M6 would be ready to launch the two channels on December 1 this year of it receives permission to do so. The first of the channels would have a budget of €100 million and second €50 million.

Tavernost was critical of the favourable treatment Canal+ allegedly receives in terms of taxation and called for a level playing field.

Canal+ is also planning to shortly launch a free DTT channel.