On April 2nd there was an announcement about the forthcoming sale of the DTT channel Numéro 23. Pascal Houzelot, boss of Numéro 23, has apparently entered exclusive negotiations with the NextRadioTV group who run BFM TV, RMC and RMC Découverte. The group could be willing pay €88.3 million for the channel, split two ways: €48.3 million cash and €40 million as convertible bond. But the deal does not please everyone. Numéro 23 is one of the 6 frequencies and authorizations given away free by France’s broadcasting watchdog, the CSA (Conseil Supérieur de l’Audiovisuel) in 2012. This is not the first time a channel has sold its frequency for a large sum. In 2013 legislation was passed setting a minimum period of two and a half years before it could be sold, plus a 5% tax on any capital gains. The heads of TF1, M6 and Canal Plus consider this sale as “a perversion of the law”. They have sent a joint letter to the CSA asking it to refuse the sale.
Sources: ecrans.liberation.fr, challenges.fr, lexpress.fr, lefigaro.fr et lemonde.fr
