:: 27/07/2012

France - Senate approves tax Bolloré

The Senate has approved an amendment allowing the State to impose a 5% tax the re-sale of DTT frequency licenses.

This legislation will affect all licenses sold since 1 January 2012. Known as the tax Bolloré, it aims to decrease speculation on DTT frequency licenses that are allocated to broadcasters for free by the broadcast regulator CSA.

The legislation emerged following the announcement last September that the group Bolloré planned to sell its DTT services, Direct 8 and Direct Star, to Canal+ for €465 million.

In addition, the license terms for all new DTT services will now prevent the license holder from selling their DTT license for 2.5 years.

The final text of this legislation is to be approved in a joint commission between representatives of the Senate and the National Assembly.

Source: Le Figaro