Orange suspends new subscriptions to Orange sport
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Paris, March 20, 2009
Béatrice Mandine
Jean-Bernard Orsoni
In application of the decision handed down by the Paris Tribunal of Commerce
on 23 February 2009, Orange is to suspend the commercialisation of its Orange
sport TV channel between 24 and 31 March, when the Appeal Court is due to announce
its decision regarding the suspension of the 23 February ruling. Orange is implementing
this court order, despite the challenge the Group has lodged before the Appeal
Court. In the event of its request for the suspension of this ruling being rejected
on 31 March, Orange would be obliged to extend the suspension of new Orange sport
subscriptions until the decision of the Appeal Court concerning the validity of
the ruling is announced.
Orange sport will of course remain available to all customers who take out a subscription before 24 March.
Orange will organise specific events for football fans who will no longer have the possibility of subscribing to the channel, and will broadcast the Saturday night match in around 50 cafés in the main premier league (Ligue 1) towns.
Moreover, given the context, Orange has decided not to purchase any further sports broadcasting rights until the Appeal Court has issued its ruling.
Orange had initially decided to launch Orange sport in a context defined by rulings from the French Competition Council (Conseil de le Concurrence) on matters such as the TPS/Canal+ merger, Rewind TV and the tender issued for Ligue 1 broadcasting rights.
In its notice dated 13 July 2006 concerning the Canalsat/TPS merger, the Competition Council recommended "offers from distributors, grouped (...) or not, chiefly from cable operators or telecommunications operators, including content or channels purchased on a competitive wholesale market and provided either exclusively or non-exclusively by each distributor". This position has been confirmed several times since then by other decisions and notices issued by the authorities.
The Orange strategy is to convert its broadband Internet subscribers into triple play subscribers (television, Internet, telephone) and, for this purpose, offer them with interactive paid content packages or the possibility of accessing these programmes on a pay-per-view basis. Accordingly, Orange has developed an original television package with numerous partners (France Télévisions, M6, France 24, LFP, CNSOF), combining the interactivity, which is specific to its networks, with premium content including exclusive sports content in several disciplines such as football, handball and basketball. This strategy is part of a worldwide trend, combining content and networks; and is a strategy widely adopted in countries such as Great Britain, the United States and China.
Orange sport will of course remain available to all customers who take out a subscription before 24 March.
Orange will organise specific events for football fans who will no longer have the possibility of subscribing to the channel, and will broadcast the Saturday night match in around 50 cafés in the main premier league (Ligue 1) towns.
Moreover, given the context, Orange has decided not to purchase any further sports broadcasting rights until the Appeal Court has issued its ruling.
Orange had initially decided to launch Orange sport in a context defined by rulings from the French Competition Council (Conseil de le Concurrence) on matters such as the TPS/Canal+ merger, Rewind TV and the tender issued for Ligue 1 broadcasting rights.
In its notice dated 13 July 2006 concerning the Canalsat/TPS merger, the Competition Council recommended "offers from distributors, grouped (...) or not, chiefly from cable operators or telecommunications operators, including content or channels purchased on a competitive wholesale market and provided either exclusively or non-exclusively by each distributor". This position has been confirmed several times since then by other decisions and notices issued by the authorities.
The Orange strategy is to convert its broadband Internet subscribers into triple play subscribers (television, Internet, telephone) and, for this purpose, offer them with interactive paid content packages or the possibility of accessing these programmes on a pay-per-view basis. Accordingly, Orange has developed an original television package with numerous partners (France Télévisions, M6, France 24, LFP, CNSOF), combining the interactivity, which is specific to its networks, with premium content including exclusive sports content in several disciplines such as football, handball and basketball. This strategy is part of a worldwide trend, combining content and networks; and is a strategy widely adopted in countries such as Great Britain, the United States and China.
Orange press contact: 01 44 44 93 93
Béatrice Mandine
Jean-Bernard Orsoni
© France Telecom - Orange 2012
