TMC

TMC is French-Monégasque commercial television network owned by Groupe TF1. The channel broadcasts news, magazines, entertainment, sports and series programmings.

History[]

The oldest private channel in Europe, TMC dates back to 1954, inaugurated by Rainier III, Prince of Monaco. Like several other European television channels, its first major broadcast was one relating to the country's reigning dynasty, in this case the marriage of Prince Rainier III and Grace Kelly. As a result of an agreement between Prince Rainier III and the French President François Mitterrand, TMC was able to be broadcast as far west as Montpellier, France, tripling its coverage (three million potential viewers).

In 1987 the channel was carried for a few hours on M6, a French television service — which made it available to much more of France — and the channel was eventually carried by CanalSat and became available in all of France and the Indian Ocean area. The channel also won a spot on the French language digital terrestrial television scheme, demonstrating its wide appeal.

The channel was owned jointly by Groupe TF1 (40%), AB Groupe (40%) and the Government of Monaco (20%). In 2010, Groupe TF1 bought AB Groupe's shares, In 2016, TF1 bought the Government of Monaco's shares, and now owns 100% of the channel.

Until 1995, TMC was a member of the European Broadcasting Union as a part of Radio Monte-Carlo (RMC). Currently the Monégasque membership is held by Groupement de Radiodiffuseurs Monégasques (GRMC), a joint organisation by Monte-Carlo Radiodiffusion (RMC) and Radio Monte Carlo (RMC).