While the frequency assigned to M6 is back in play, Xavier Niel intends to take advantage of it by launching his own channel. It is still necessary that ARCOM validates its project while M6 will not let go. We explain all the issues in this special file.
With Free, Xavier Niel revolutionized the market by launching triple play offers and the box concept in our regions. Alongside his activities within the Iliad group, the businessman has invested heavily in the press sector and has even launched the 42 school dedicated to the programmers of tomorrow. Now, Niel tackles another big piece: the small screen. And M6 could well suffer from it since the boss intends to steal its frequency for the next ten years.
TNT: why is M6’s frequency threatened?
The audiovisual and digital communication regulator (ARCOM) launched a call for applications in December 2022. The allocations of two DTT frequencies – 1 and 6 – will expire on May 5, 2023. The TF1 group will have no difficulty in resume its frequency, given that no other candidate has declared itself. On the other hand, the M6 group has to face a strong adversary: the SIX project led by the ambitious Xaviel Niel.
M6 vs project SIX: what are the arguments of the two camps?
On Wednesday February 15, Nicolas de Tavernost, Chairman of the Management Board of Métropole Télévision (M6), defended his channel tooth and nail during a hearing organized at the headquarters of the regulator. Accompanied by emblematic figures of the channel, he recalled that M6 had respected its commitments and that it was hosted by “exceptional human capital” of 2500 employees. And to hammer home that his programs kept millions of French people in suspense daily, who would be very sad to see the channel disappear.
For his part, Xavier Niel presented his vision, painting a gloomy picture of the current audiovisual landscape: “My concern is that there will be no more innovation and that television, as we know it, will disappear, and that for our young people, our children, it will be replaced by platforms, social networks, controlled by operators in the United States, and potentially in China”. And tackling the chains”who are content to aim for commercial targets”.
The ball is in the court of Arcom, which will give its answer in a few weeks.
Will M6 disappear?
Even if Xavier Niel’s project is serious, it is hard to imagine M6 disappearing from the PAF overnight. If ARCOM finally allocates frequency 6 to Project SIX, M6 could continue to broadcast on other channels (streaming and satellite). Its flagship programs could also be transferred to another DTT channel belonging to the group, such as W9 and 6ter.
What will Project SIX programs be?
Xavier Niel wishes to create “a great generalist media” affecting all audiences. He assures that the SIX will put the viewer back in the center of the village, with the advertisers coming after. Concretely, here are the main axes that will structure the chain:
- Evening programs will invariably start before 9 p.m.. They will not be preceded by the famous “advertising tunnels” that drive viewers away.
- Each evening has its own program. Two evenings will be dedicated to fiction and two others to entertainment. Thursday evening will be devoted to cinema, while music and documentaries will take place on Friday evening. On Sunday, it will be the evening of information magazines on the M6 model.
- The development of french fiction unseen and documentaries by investing 12.5% of the channel’s turnover.
- Information through two daily appointments of 90 minutes at 12 p.m. and 7 p.m. (newspaper and debates on set). Niel wishes to set up an editorial staff of 200 journalists to whom he promises independence.
- The music, neglected DNA of M6, will be entitled to increased treatment, especially during the second evening parts. A slice that will also allow you to test new formats.
