Suez-Lyonnaise, which owns 25 per cent of French pay-TV digital satellite platform TPS, has offered to acquire the 25 per cent in the digital platform held by terrestrial channel TF1. Meanwhile, Bouygues, principal shareholder of TF1, has expressed an interest in Suez-Lyonnaise’s share. Ever since its creation in 1996, the four way split in the ownership of TPS has given rise to friction with differing viewpoints on the strategy. Suez has support from the third shareholder, M6. The fourth shareholder is France Telecom (17 per cent) and France Television (8 per cent). Both Bouygues and Suez are also mobile operators and interested in UMTS.