Why the CMA CGM and Altice Media deal carried local advertising rules

The review covered ownership of a mixed media portfolio

CMA CGM already published La Provence, Corse Matin and La Tribune titles. Altice Media operated national TV, local television and radio services. The acquisition excluded the pay-TV channels RMC Sport 1 and 2. Source 1

The competition concern was geographically specific

The authority identified an overlap between La Provence and the broadcast areas of BFM Marseille, BFM DICI, BFM Nice and BFM Toulon. It found that combined advertising offers could divert spend from competing local newspapers and weaken their ability to remain in the market. Source 1

Commitments addressed sales practices and staff separation

CMA CGM agreed to prevent direct and indirect combinations of advertising space sales across the covered outlets. It also agreed to keep the advertising departments separate and train relevant employees, addressing both offer design and how offers were sold. Source 1 Source 2

The deal proceeded after a first-phase review

The authority accepted the five-year commitments and cleared the acquisition following phase one. Its summary also identified oversight of CMA CGM's representation on Métropole Télévision's supervisory board to protect commercially sensitive information. Source 1

Sources

• Autorité de la concurrence summary of case 24-DCC-141
• Autorité de la concurrence full decision 24-DCC-141