The French Council of State confirms the clearance of a merger in the free TV sector (TF1 / NT1 / Monte-Carlo Participations)

Background On 26 January 2010, the French Competition Authority (the “FCA”) authorized the acquisition by TF1 group (“TF1”), the parent company of leading free TV channel TF1, of sole control over NT1 and TMC, two free Digital Terrestrial Television channels ("DTT channels"). Prior to this transaction, NT1 and TMC were jointly controlled by AB group and TF1. This case concerns the appeal filed by Métropole Télévision, the parent company of competing free TV channel M6 (the “appellant”), against the clearance decision before the Conseil d’Etat