LCI to become a free-to-air service

French media regulator the CSA has given a green light for TF1-owned news channel LCI to become a free-to-air service, it has however, rejected requests from Canal+ and M6 Group to enable their respective channels, factual service Planète+ and entertainment channel Paris Première, to make the same transition.
The CSA said that it had judged that LCI had no viable future as a pay TV channel and that its transition to a free service will contribute to media pluralism and is in the public interest.

TF1, welcomed the CSA’s decision. It said that the conditions set by the CSA, which had been proposed by the broadcaster, are compatible with its successful move to the free-to-air platform. TF1 has committed to invest €20 million in the now free-to-air channel in 2016, with a goal of breaking even by 2019.

“I thank the CSA for this decision, which offers LCI, pioneer of news services, the possibility of being accessible to all on the free DTT platform and opening a new page in its history. I am delighted for the contributors and for pluralism in France,” said Nonce Paolini, CEO of TF1 Group.