October 17, 2013
Court upholds financing plan to help France Télévisions cover public service costs, taking into consideration the progressive removal of advertising.
On October 16, the General Court of the European Union upheld the European Commission decision approving a new financing regime granted by the French State to its publicly owned broadcaster France Télévisions, represented by Willkie. This new financing plan was introduced following the partial advertising ban imposed on France Télévisions to assist it in covering the costs of fulfilling its public service mission. Having previously approved aid for France Télévisions for 2008 and 2009, the Court cleared the financing plan applicable from 2010 onwards, thus rejecting the latest challenge by TF1 against subsidies granted to France Télévisions.
The case was handled by partner Jacques-Philippe Gunther, special European counsel Adrien Giraud and associate Dounia Ababou.