CGT-Spectacle Takes Legal Action Against Canal+ Over Anti-Bolloré Letter Controversy
CGT-Spectacle, the largest trade union representing workers in the entertainment and culture sectors in France, has taken legal action against pay-TV giant Canal+ for threatening to boycott those who signed an anti-Bolloré letter. The union has filed a lawsuit with the Nanterre Judicial Court seeking the annulment of Canal+'s decision and the appointment of a representative to document the discrimination. They are also considering appealing to the European Commission for sanctions against Canal+'s abuse of economic dependence.
Additionally, CGT-Spectacle has called on professionals in the performing arts, media, and publishing industries to protest against Bolloré in front of the Olympia music hall in Paris, owned by Vivendi, a company in which the Bolloré Group has a stake. The lawsuit is the latest development in a conflict between Canal+ and parts of the French film industry following an open letter titled "Time To Switch-Off Bolloré" signed by 600 cinema professionals expressing concerns about Vincent Bolloré's increasing control over the media and entertainment sectors in France.
The letter raised alarms about Canal+'s acquisition of a stake in French major UGC and the potential impact on the French cinema chain. Canal+ CEO Maxime Saada's response to the letter, announcing that the company would no longer collaborate with the signatories, caused outrage in the industry. CGT-Spectacle criticized Saada's decision as an attempt to silence dissenting voices within the industry against Bolloré's control over film production and distribution.
Support for the letter has been growing internationally, with the number of signatories reaching 3,800 as of May 22. Prominent figures in the film industry, including Cannes 2026 jury member Paul Laverty and directors like Ruben Östlund and Leos Carax, have joined the cause. The legal action taken by CGT-Spectacle reflects the ongoing tensions between Canal+ and industry professionals over concerns about corporate influence and freedom of expression in the French entertainment sector.