The Molotov.tv video platform receives a heavy fine for continuing to broadcast TF1 group channels without authorization. A big blow that comes after a similar problem with M6. And that could be fatal to the service.
Bad times for Molotov.tv. As revealed Capital, the famous French video platform, which makes it possible to watch television channels in streaming on computer, on mobile and even on connected TV, has indeed just received a very heavy fine for counterfeiting. The Paris court in fact ordered it on Friday, January 7 to pay 8.5 million euros to the TF1 group in damages for having broadcast its channels without authorization for more than two years. This is not the only aspect of the sanction: Mototov must also immediately cease the live retransmission of the four channels concerned (TF1, TMC, TFX and LCI), which is curiously still not the case at a time when we are writing these lines.
This heavy-handed court decision concludes – provisionally – the conflict between the platform and the audiovisual group for several years. In fact, when Molotov was still only a promising start-up, TF1 had accepted that the platform broadcast its TV channels between 2015 and until mid-2019. Since then, the two companies should have concluded a financial agreement to extend this first authorization. But Molotov refused to do so in view of the sums required. Following the lawsuits initiated by TF1, the Paris court obviously ruled otherwise.
Molotov vs TF1: an agreement like with M6?
This is the second major setback for Molotov, who experienced similar setbacks and for the same reasons a few months ago with the M6 group which also claimed a large sum. After negotiation, the two companies reached a financial agreement. And, since December 2021, the platform can continue to broadcast the M6, W9, 6Ter and Gulli channels … but only as part of its paid offers, which is a game-changer for the approximately 4 million active users of the service – against 22.5 registered. We can therefore imagine that Molotov will try to find an equivalent solution with TF1, insofar as the discussions continue behind the scenes.
These showdowns raise several questions. Starting with the justification of the amount of the fees charged for the retransmission of streams broadcast free of charge by TNT, as well as by the online services and applications of the two groups, My TF1and 6play. Above all, these conflicts seriously endanger the economic model and the future of Molotov. Certainly, the start-up has grown since its inception. And if it still has not reached the expected profitability, it was bought in December 2021 by FuboTV, a streaming heavyweight in the United States that intends to establish itself in Europe. The financial base of the new owner, who counts giants like Disney and Viacom among its shareholders, will it be sufficient to face this new storm? Difficult to say today. But if no amicable solution is found with TF1, it is not impossible that Molotov throws in the towel, by depriving its users of its very practical service. It would then be necessary to turn to other free solutions such as the excellent Captvty to watch television for free in streaming (see our practical sheets for solutions on computer and on mobile).
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