Vivendi Universal, TF1 and M6 have begun negotiations to merge French satellite pay-TV operators TPS and Canal+ Group, the company announced Dec. 11. Vivendi’s wholly owned subsidiary Canal+ holds a 66 percent stake in Canal Satellite. TF1 owns 66 percent of TPS, while M6 owns the remaining 34 percent.

The combination of the two pay-TV operators would “be in the best interest of current and future subscribers and … would preserve the identities of the two companies,” said Vivendi. “Together, the companies would be in a better position to meet the increased competition from telecommunications and Internet companies.”