M6 (TV channel)


M6, also known as Métropole Télévision, is the most profitable private national French television channel and the third most watched television network in the French-speaking world. M6 is the head channel of the M6 Group media empire that owns several TV channels, magazines, publications, movie production companies, and media-related firms. It is owned by RTL Group.
On 20 May 2021, it was announced that M6 Group, owners of the channel, has proposed a merger with TF1 Group, which owns competing commercial network TF1. On 16 September 2022, it was announced that the merger was officially abandoned, citing concerns from French antitrust regulator, the Autorité de la concurrence, regarding competition in the advertising sector; the combined entity was likely to have been required to sell either primary channel for the merger to proceed.

History

M6 launched on 1 March 1987, at 11:15 am CET, taking the place of TV6.
M6's current on-air brand image, introduced in May 2020, suggests that it tailors its service to teenagers and young-adult demographics. Its current programs lineup include:
In 2001, M6 became the first national French television network to broadcast reality programming. Its first program of this genre was Loft Story, and was highly watched. The president of TF1 at the time, Étienne Mougeotte, promised that TF1 would never air any reality programming. However, several months later, TF1 signed a contract with Endemol to air such programming. Endemol is the same company that created Loft Story for M6.
M6 is one of the only television services in France to have science-fiction programming as part of its regular schedule. Most supernatural dramas were shown on Saturday nights in what M6 called "la Trilogie du Samedi"

M6+

On 19 March 2008, M6 launched a new website, in addition to its official site. This TV Catch-up called M6 Replay allows French Internet users to view all M6 programs in the 6 p.m.-midnight slot one hour after their broadcasts, for one week. On 4 November 2013, M6 Replay was replaced by 6play.
On 27 March 2014, M6 launched 4 new thematic channels, "100% online", on 6play: 6play Comic, 6play Crazy Kitchen, 6play Sixième Style, and 6play Stories. On 9 February 2015, M6 launched 6play home time.
On 1 December 2015, a new version of 6play was launched. A new 6play design is launched for the occasion and 6play now uses a personalized recommendation system under the "My selection" section similar to that of Netflix.
From 14 May 2024, 6play became M6+.

Logo history

Programmes

News