M6 (), also known as , 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
TF1 Group () is a French media holding company. Its best-known property is the broadcast network TF1. The group was formed after TF1 was privatized in April 1987 in which the channel was launched back on January 6 1975 twelve years prior. It is ...
, which owns competing commercial network
TF1
TF1 (; standing for ''Télévision Française 1'') is a French commercial television network owned by TF1 Group, controlled by the Bouygues conglomerate. TF1's average market share of 24% makes it the most popular domestic network.
TF1 is part ...
. 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 (M6 or TF1) 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:
* French TV shows: ''
Les Bleus'', ''
Scènes de Ménages'', ''
Vous les femmes''
* French TV programs : ''Capital'', ''Zone Interdite'', ''Enquête Exclusive'', ''Top Chef, Un dîner presque parfait, 100% Mag'', ''66 Minutes'', ''Recherche Appartement ou Maison'', ''L'amour est dans le pré'', ''Maison à vendre'', ''On ne choisit pas ses voisins'', ''Belle toute nue'', ''Nouveau Look pour une nouvelle vie'', ''Hits Machines'', ''M6 Boutique'', ''LE 1945 and LE 1245 (news)'', ''Top tendance'', ''Le meilleur patissier de france'', ''Danse avec les stars, Morning Live'', ...
* American TV shows: ''
Blue Bloods''; ''
Elementary''; ''
Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders'' ''(Esprits criminels : Unité sans frontières)''; ''
Hawaii Five-0'' ''(Hawaii 5-0)''; ''
When Calls the Heart'' ''(Le cœur a ses raisons)''; ''
Modern Family''; ''
How to Get Away with Murder'' ''(Murder)''; ''
NCIS: New Orleans'' ''(NCIS: Nouvelle Orléans)''; ''
New Girl''; ''
Quantico''; ''
Reign
A reign is the period of a person's or dynasty's occupation of the office of monarch of a nation (e.g., King of Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia, List of Belgian monarchs, Belgium, Co-princes of Andorra, Andorra), of a people (e.g., List of Frankish kin ...
'' ''(Reign : Le Destin d'une reine)''; ''
Rosewood''; ''
Scorpion
Scorpions are predatory arachnids of the Order (biology), order Scorpiones. They have eight legs and are easily recognized by a pair of Chela (organ), grasping pincers and a narrow, segmented tail, often carried in a characteristic forward cur ...
''; ''
Good Witch'' ''(Un soupçon de magie)''; ''
Once Upon A Time''; ''
NCIS'' ''(NCIS: enquêtes spéciales)''; ''
NCIS: Los Angeles''; ''
Prison Break
''Prison Break'' is an American Crime film#Crime drama, crime Drama (film and television), drama television series created by Paul Scheuring for Fox Broadcasting Company, Fox. The series revolves around two brothers: Lincoln Burrows (Dominic P ...
''; ''
Bones''; ''
Supernatural
Supernatural phenomena or entities are those beyond the Scientific law, laws of nature. The term is derived from Medieval Latin , from Latin 'above, beyond, outside of' + 'nature'. Although the corollary term "nature" has had multiple meanin ...
'' and ''
Secrets and Lies'' ''(Secrets and Lies : l'affaire Tom Murphy)''; ''
The X-Files
''The X-Files'' is an American science fiction on television, science fiction drama (film and television), drama television series created by Chris Carter (screenwriter), Chris Carter. The original series aired from September 10, 1993, to Ma ...
'' ''(X-Files, aux frontières du réel)''; ''
24: Legacy''; ''
Bull
A bull is an intact (i.e., not Castration, castrated) adult male of the species ''Bos taurus'' (cattle). More muscular and aggressive than the females of the same species (i.e. cows proper), bulls have long been an important symbol cattle in r ...
''; ''
Code Black''; ''
MacGyver
Angus "Mac" MacGyver is the title character and the protagonist in the TV series ''MacGyver''. He is played by Richard Dean Anderson in the MacGyver (1985 TV series), 1985 original series. Lucas Till portrays a younger version of MacGyver in Mac ...
''
* These American TV shows were previously shown on M6: ''
Smallville
''Smallville'' is an American superhero fiction, superhero television series developed by writer-producers Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, based on the DC Comics character Superman created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. The series was produce ...
'';''
Scrubs''; ''
The Unit'' ''(The Unit : commando d'élite)'';''
Stargate Atlantis
''Stargate Atlantis'' (usually stylized in all caps and often abbreviated ''SGA'') is an Adventure film, adventure and military science fiction television series and part of MGM's Stargate, ''Stargate'' franchise. The show was created by Brad W ...
''; ''
Nip/Tuck''; ''
Californication''; ''
Kyle XY''; ''
Everybody Hates Chris'' ''(Tout le monde déteste Chris)'';''
Terra Nova''; ''
Desperate Housewives'';''
Lie to Me'';''
Medium'' ''(Médium)''; ''
My Name Is Earl'' ''(Earl)''; ''
Numbers
A number is a mathematical object used to count, measure, and label. The most basic examples are the natural numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, and so forth. Numbers can be represented in language with number words. More universally, individual numbers can ...
''; ''
Charmed''; ''
The 4400'' ''(Les 4 400)''; ''
Jericho
Jericho ( ; , ) is a city in the West Bank, Palestine, and the capital of the Jericho Governorate. Jericho is located in the Jordan Valley, with the Jordan River to the east and Jerusalem to the west. It had a population of 20,907 in 2017.
F ...
''; ''
The Dead Zone'' ''(Dead Zone)''; ''
Stargate SG-1
''Stargate SG-1'' (often stylized in all caps, or abbreviated ''SG-1'') is a military science fiction Adventure fiction, adventure television series within Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's Stargate, ''Stargate'' franchise. The show, created by Brad Wrig ...
''; ''
Malcolm in the Middle
''Malcolm in the Middle'' is an American television sitcom created by Linwood Boomer for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series premiered on January 9, 2000, and ended on May 14, 2006, after seven seasons consisting of 151 episodes.
The ...
'' ''(Malcolm)''; ''
Friends
''Friends'' is an American television sitcom created by David Crane (producer), David Crane and Marta Kauffman, which aired on NBC from September 22, 1994, to May 6, 2004, lasting List of Friends episodes, ten seasons. With an ensemble cast ...
''; ''
Alias''; ''
Sex and the City
''Sex and the City'' is an American romantic comedy, romantic comedy-drama television series created by Darren Star for HBO, based on Sex and the City (newspaper column), the newspaper column and 1996 book by Candace Bushnell. It premiered in th ...
''; ''
Veronica Mars
''Veronica Mars'' is an American teen neo-noir Mystery fiction, mystery Drama (film and television), drama television series created by screenwriter Rob Thomas (writer), Rob Thomas. The series is set in the fictional city, fictional town of Ne ...
''; ''
Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' ''(Buffy contre les vampires)''; ''
Ally McBeal''; ''
Roswell''; ''
Profiler''; ''
The Pretender'' ''(Le Caméléon)''; ''
The Sentinel''; ''
Sliders'' ''(Sliders, les mondes parallèles)''; ''
Hope & Faith'' ''(La Star de la famille)''; ''
8 Simple Rules'' ''(Touche pas à mes filles)''; ''
My Wife and Kids'' ''(Ma famille d'abord)''; ''
Still Standing'' ''(Une famille presque parfaite)''; ''
Early Edition'' ''(Demain à la Une)''; ''
Wildfire
A wildfire, forest fire, or a bushfire is an unplanned and uncontrolled fire in an area of Combustibility and flammability, combustible vegetation. Depending on the type of vegetation present, a wildfire may be more specifically identified as a ...
''; ''
Once and Again'' ''(Deuxième chance)''; ''
Relic Hunter
''Relic Hunter'' is a Canadian adventure television series, starring Tia Carrere and Christien Anholt.
It centres on Sydney Fox, a professor who is also a globe-trotting "relic hunter" who looks for ancient artifacts to return to museums and ...
'' ''(Sydney Fox, l'aventurière)''; ''
Medical Investigation'' ''(NIH : alertes médicales)''; ''
Tru Calling'' ''(Tru Calling : compte à rebours)''; ''
Commander in Chief''; ''
1-800-Missing'' ''(Missing : disparus sans laisser de trace)''; ''
Dark Skies'' ''(Dark Skies : l'impossible vérité)''; ''
The Inside'' ''(The Inside : dans la tête des tueurs)''; ''
Killer Instinct''; ''
Vanished''; ''
John Doe''; ''
LAX''; ''
Jake 2.0''; ''
Blind Justice''; ''
Threshold'' ''(Threshold : premier contact)''; ''
Summerland''; ''
Beautiful People''; ''
Young Americans''; ''
Special Unit 2''; ''
The Evidence'' ''(The Evidence : les preuves du crime)''; ''
South Beach''; ''
L.A. Heat'' ''(Los Angeles Heat)''; ''
Married... with Children'' ''(Mariés, deux enfants)''; ''
The Cosby Show'' ''(Cosby Show)''; ''
Who's the Boss?'' ''(Madame est servie)''; ''
The Nanny'' ''(Une nounou d'enfer)''; ''
Little House on the Prairie'' ''(La Petite Maison dans la prairie)''; ''
The Simpsons
''The Simpsons'' is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening and developed by Groening, James L. Brooks and Sam Simon for the Fox Broadcasting Company. It is a Satire (film and television), satirical depiction of American life ...
'' ''(Les Simpson)''; ''
Bewitched'' ''(Ma sorcière bien-aimée)''; ''
The Wonder Years'' ''(Les années coup de cœur)'' and ''
Family Affair'' ''(Cher Oncle Bill)''.
* American programs: ''
High School Musical''; ''
Camp Rock''; ''
America's Got Talent'' ''(with its own version :
La France a un incroyable talent)'', ''
American Idol
''American Idol'' is an American Music competition, singing competition television series created by Simon Fuller, produced by Fremantle (company), Fremantle North America and 19 Entertainment, and distributed by Fremantle North America. It a ...
'' ''(La Nouvelle Star)'', ''
KaBlam!'' (KarToon (M6 version))
* British TV shows:
Primeval;
Secret Diary of a Call Girl ''(Journal intime d'une call girl)''.
* British TV programs: ''
Britain's Got Talent'' ''(with its own version :
La France a un incroyable talent)'', ''
Pop Idol'' (with its own version :
Nouvelle Star), ''
The X-Factor
''The X Factor'' is a television music competition franchise created by British producer Simon Cowell and his company Syco Entertainment. It originated in the United Kingdom, where it was devised as a replacement for '' Pop Idol'' (2001–200 ...
'' (with its own version), ''
Wife Swap''
* These British TV shows were previously shown on M6: ''
Footballers' Wives'' ''(Femme$ de footballeurs)''; ''
Queer as Folk''; ''
Totally Frank''; ''
Bugs''; and ''
Hex'' ''(Hex : la malédiction)''.
* These Canadian TV shows were shown on M6: ''
Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye'' ''(Sue Thomas, l'œil du FBI)'' and ''
Falcon Beach''.
* Investigative journalism shows, such as ''Capital'', ''Zone interdite'' and ''Enquête Exclusive''.
* Long-lasting short programs, such as ''Turbo'', ''CinéSix'', and ''E=M6'', as well as numerous music videos.
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
Supernatural phenomena or entities are those beyond the Scientific law, laws of nature. The term is derived from Medieval Latin , from Latin 'above, beyond, outside of' + 'nature'. Although the corollary term "nature" has had multiple meanin ...
dramas were shown on Saturday nights in what M6 called "la Trilogie du Samedi" (The Saturday Trilogy)
6play (formerly M6 Replay; subsequently 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 (metropolitan France only) to view all M6 programs in the 6 p.m.-midnight slot (excluding films) 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 (Humor), 6play Crazy Kitchen (Cooking), 6play Sixième Style (Fashion/Beauty), and 6play Stories (TV films). On 9 February 2015, M6 launched 6play home time (Universe de la Maison).
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 will become M6+.
Logo history
File:M6 1987 logo.svg, M6's third logo from 1987 to 1999
File:M6 logo.svg, M6's fourth logo from 1999 to 2009
Programmes
News
*''Le 12:45 (national edition) and 19:45 (national edition)'', afternoon and evening news.
*''
Zone Interdite'', France's most influential
Newsmagazine
*''66 Minutes'' weekly news magazine.
*''Capital'', Economy-oriented newsmagazine.
*''Enquête Exclusive'', Investigation magazine.
Show and reality show
*''Les reines du shopping''
*''
X Factor
''The X Factor'' is a television music competition franchise created by British producer Simon Cowell and his company Syco Entertainment. It originated in the United Kingdom, where it was devised as a replacement for '' Pop Idol'' (2001–200 ...
''
*''
Ice show''
*''Nouvelle star'', (French adaptation of
Pop Idol) reality television (until 2011, then it moved on
D8)
*''L'amour est dans le pré'', French adaptation of ''
Farmer Wants a Wife''
*''D&CO'', homestyle show.
*''E=M6'', science magazine.
*''Top Chef'', French adaptation of Top Chef
*''Belle toute nue'', the French equivalent of
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British free-to-air public broadcast television channel owned and operated by Channel Four Television Corporation. It is state-owned enterprise, publicly owned but, unlike the BBC, it receives no public funding and is funded en ...
's ''
How to Look Good Naked''.
*''Turbo'', motor magazine.
*''Chef, la recette'', culinary magazine
*''Vocation Medecin'', health magazine
*''Hit Machine'', musical show.
*''M6 Kid'', program for children.
*''Pekin Express'', French adaptation of Dutch show ''
Peking Express''.
*''Off Prime''
*''Accès Privé'', entertainment news magazine
*''Un dîner presque parfait'', the French adaptation of
Come Dine with Me
*''Nouveau look pour une nouvelle vie'', fashion magazine
*''On ne choisit pas ses voisins'', family magazine
*''
La France a un incroyable talent'', the French adaptation of ''
Britain's Got Talent''
*''
Le Meilleur Pâtissier'', the French adaptation of ''
The Great British Bake Off
''The Great British Bake Off'' (often abbreviated to ''Bake Off'' or ''GBBO'') is a British television baking competition, produced by Love Productions, in which a group of amateur bakers compete against each other in a series of rounds, atte ...
''
*''Le choix'', the French adaptation of ''
The Taste''.
*''Cauchemar en cuisine'', the French adaptation of ''
Kitchen Nightmares''.
*''
Show Me Your Voice'', the French adaptation of ''
I Can See Your Voice''
*''
Lego Masters''
*''
Le Juste Prix, the French adaptation of ''
The Price Is Right''
''Qui veut être mon associé?, the French adaptation of
Dragons' Den''
*''Sport 6'', sport magazine
Series
*''
90210 Beverly Hills : Nouvelle Génération''
*''
Blue Bloods''
*''
Body of Proof
''Body of Proof'' is an American medical drama, medical/crime drama, crime comedy-drama television series that ran on American Broadcasting Company, ABC from March 29, 2011, to May 28, 2013, and starred Dana Delany as medical examiner List of B ...
''
*''
Bones''
*''
Burn Notice''
*''
Californication''
*''
Desperate Housewives''
*''
Drop Dead Diva''
*''
Earl
Earl () is a rank of the nobility in the United Kingdom. In modern Britain, an earl is a member of the Peerages in the United Kingdom, peerage, ranking below a marquess and above a viscount. A feminine form of ''earl'' never developed; instead, ...
''
*' (French creation)
*''
FBI : Duo très spécial''
*''
Glee''
*''
Hawaii 5-0''
*''
Journal intime d'une call girl''
*''
Justified''
*''
Kaamelott'' (French creation)
*' (French creation)
*' (French creation)
*''
Le Transporteur'' (French-Canadian creation)
*''
Lie to Me''
*''
Ma famille d'abord''
*' (French creation)
*''
Médium''
*''
Modern Family''
*''
NCIS : Enquêtes spéciales''
*''
NCIS: Los Angeles''
*''
New Girl''
*''
Numbers
A number is a mathematical object used to count, measure, and label. The most basic examples are the natural numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, and so forth. Numbers can be represented in language with number words. More universally, individual numbers can ...
''
*''
Once Upon a Time''
*''
Ringer''
*''
Scènes de ménages'' (French creation)
*''
Scrubs''
*''Soda'' (French creation)
*''
Sons of Anarchy''
*''
Supernatural
Supernatural phenomena or entities are those beyond the Scientific law, laws of nature. The term is derived from Medieval Latin , from Latin 'above, beyond, outside of' + 'nature'. Although the corollary term "nature" has had multiple meanin ...
''
*''
Terra Nova''
*''
The Finder''
*''
The Glades''
*''
The Good Wife''
*''
un gars une fille''
*''
Un, dos, tres''
*''
Under the Dome''
*' (French creation)
*''
Wes et Travis''
M6 Kid
* ''Presto ! School of Magic''
*
''Alvinn!!! and the Chipmunks''
*
''The Adventures of Paddington''
* ''Dogmatix and the Indomitables''
* ''Les filles de Dad''
* ''
Matt's Monsters''
Past programs
*''Super Nanny''
*''Culture Pub'', a TV advertisements analysing show
*''Graines de star'', a talents contests show
*''
Loft Story'' (French adaptation of Big Brother), M6 and the first French reality show
*''Les colocataires'' (''Roommates'') a show similar to ''
Loft Story''.
*''
Les Bleus'' (2006–2010) Police series about five rookies learning the ropes.
*''Morning Live'', Morning show
*''
Caméra Café'', Comedy
*''Nouvelle Star'' (French adaptation of American Idol)
*''
Êtes-vous plus fort qu'un élève de 10 ans ?'', French adaptation of
Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?
*''
Rubí rebelde'', Venezuelan
telenovela
A telenovela is a type of a television serial drama or soap opera produced primarily in Latin America. The word combines ''tele'' (for "television") and ''novela'' (meaning "novel"). Similar Drama (film and television), drama genres around the w ...
*''
The Simpsons
''The Simpsons'' is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening and developed by Groening, James L. Brooks and Sam Simon for the Fox Broadcasting Company. It is a Satire (film and television), satirical depiction of American life ...
'', moved to sister channel W9
*''Total Wipeout'' (French adaptation of
Wipeout)
*''
Stargate SG-1
''Stargate SG-1'' (often stylized in all caps, or abbreviated ''SG-1'') is a military science fiction Adventure fiction, adventure television series within Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's Stargate, ''Stargate'' franchise. The show, created by Brad Wrig ...
'' The series has been fully aired between 18 September 1998, and 8 December 2007.
*''
Stargate Atlantis
''Stargate Atlantis'' (usually stylized in all caps and often abbreviated ''SGA'') is an Adventure film, adventure and military science fiction television series and part of MGM's Stargate, ''Stargate'' franchise. The show was created by Brad W ...
'' The first two seasons aired between 15 April 2005, and 29 July 2006.
*''
Atomic Betty'' Only the first two seasons
*''
The Toy Castle''
*''Disney Kid Club'', A 2 Programmed Block aired from 2010 to 2016, after M6 Kid and before M6 Kid.
*''Secrets d'actualité'', Investigation magazine
See also
*
List of television stations in France
References
External links
*
M6+
{{DEFAULTSORT:M6 (Television Channel)
Television stations in France
French-language television stations
Television channels and stations established in 1987
1987 establishments in France
RTL Group