RMC Life

RMC Life is a French television channel that originated as Chérie 25, a national free-to-air service created by NRJ Group for France’s digital terrestrial television platform. The channel was developed during the transition away from analogue broadcasting, when French regulators were allocating additional high-definition national channels on TNT. NRJ Group, led by president Jean-Paul Baudecroux, initially presented the project under the name Chérie HD. After the Conseil supérieur de l’audiovisuel selected the application in 2012, the proposed service was renamed Chérie 25 shortly before launch, using the number associated with its position on French digital terrestrial television. Chérie 25 began broadcasting on 12 December 2012 through TNT, satellite and xDSL distribution. Its programming combined magazine and lifestyle formats with imported and syndicated television series. The channel’s programme mix included content focused on women’s interests, personal stories, relationships, crime and reality television, alongside entertainment and factual formats. Listed programmes included 10 ans de moins, 99% plaisir, Good Morning Business, Sans tabou and several documentary-style series centred on women’s lives. Imported entertainment and drama offerings included The X-Files, The Middle, Royal Pains, Rookie Blue, Hot in Cleveland, The Tudors, Melrose Place and Bomb Girls. The service later became associated with the RMC BFM portfolio and was renamed RMC Life. The rebranding connects the channel with a broader French news, business, entertainment and lifestyle media group while preserving its identity as a general-interest television outlet. The supplied reference material does not establish a precise date for the RMC Life name change, a separate legal entity, or a new headquarters location. In 2025, developments affecting NRJ Group’s television frequencies created uncertainty around the channel’s future ownership and distribution. After NRJ 12’s TNT frequency was not renewed by France’s audiovisual regulator ARCOM, NRJ Group considered selling or returning the frequency used by Chérie 25, whose renewal was scheduled for 2027. The proposed sale was confirmed on 21 March 2025 and was expected to be managed by Lazard. Rodolphe Saadé’s CMA CGM, which owns RMC BFM and holds a minority stake in Groupe M6, and Czech media investor Daniel Křetínský, whose CMI France is associated with the planned T18 channel, were reported as interested parties. The available material does not confirm the final buyer, completion of the transaction, or the precise operational implications for the RMC Life brand.

RMC Life traces its origins to an NRJ Group television proposal developed during France’s transition from analogue broadcasting to expanded digital terrestrial television. In 2011, NRJ Group president Jean-Paul Baudecroux proposed a new service under the working name Chérie HD. The project was intended to secure one of the additional national high-definition channels being made available on TNT. In 2012, the Conseil supérieur de l’audiovisuel reviewed applications for the new national services. NRJ Group’s proposal was selected, giving the company a route into a more substantial national television presence. Before the station went on air, the name Chérie HD was changed to Chérie 25. The new name referred to the channel’s planned position, number 25, on French digital terrestrial television. Chérie 25 launched on 12 December 2012. It was distributed through TNT as well as satellite and xDSL television platforms. The schedule was built around a combination of factual entertainment, lifestyle magazines, reality-related programming and imported scripted series. The channel’s listed output included formats about personal experiences, women’s lives, relationships and crime, as well as entertainment programmes such as 99% plaisir and Tout le plaisir est pour moi. Its acquired drama and comedy catalogue included The X-Files, The Middle, Royal Pains, Rookie Blue, Hot in Cleveland, The Tudors, Melrose Place, Bomb Girls and The Tudors, among others listed in reference material. The channel subsequently became known as RMC Life and was described as being controlled by RMC BFM. The available references do not provide a detailed account of the rebranding process, its exact date, or whether the name represents a standalone company or a channel brand within a larger media group. The supplied website remains a Chérie 25 page, so the relationship between the current public-facing web presence and the RMC Life name should be verified. The channel’s ownership and frequency position became more uncertain in 2025. After ARCOM did not renew NRJ 12’s digital terrestrial frequency, NRJ Group considered withdrawing from or selling its remaining TNT position, including the frequency associated with Chérie 25, which was due for renewal in 2027. The proposed sale was confirmed on 21 March 2025, with Lazard identified as the bank expected to manage the process. Potentially interested parties included Rodolphe Saadé’s CMA CGM, which owns RMC BFM and has a minority holding in Groupe M6, and Daniel Křetínský’s CMI France, associated with the future T18 channel. The available reference does not establish whether the transaction was completed, who ultimately acquired the frequency, or how the process affected RMC Life’s broadcast operations.

• 2025

  Proposed frequency sale confirmed

  [1]RMC Lifeen.wikipedia.org

  NRJ Group confirmed plans to sell or otherwise relinquish the Chérie 25 TNT frequency after regulatory changes affecting its television portfolio.

• 2012

  Regulatory selection for national TNT service

  [1]RMC Lifeen.wikipedia.org

  The Conseil supérieur de l’audiovisuel selected NRJ Group’s application for an additional national high-definition digital terrestrial channel.

• 2012

  Chérie HD becomes Chérie 25

  [1]RMC Lifeen.wikipedia.org

  The planned channel was renamed Chérie 25 before launch, using its intended TNT channel number.

• 2012

  Broadcast launch

  [1]RMC Lifeen.wikipedia.org

  Chérie 25 began broadcasting on 12 December through TNT, satellite and xDSL distribution.

• 2011

  NRJ Group proposes Chérie HD

  [1]RMC Lifeen.wikipedia.org

  NRJ Group president Jean-Paul Baudecroux proposed a new television channel project initially named Chérie HD.

A French general-interest television channel with a strong lifestyle, factual-entertainment and imported-series orientation, originating as the NRJ Group service Chérie 25 and later associated with RMC BFM.

• Television channel · 2012

  RMC Life

  RMC Life is the channel brand associated with the French television service formerly known as Chérie 25. It provides a general-interest schedule combining lifestyle and factual-entertainment formats with imported scripted series. The service originated on France’s national digital terrestrial television network and was also distributed through satellite and xDSL platforms. Its programming references include personal-story documentaries, magazine shows, reality-related content, comedies, dramas and crime-oriented series.

• Former channel name · 2012

  Chérie 25

  Chérie 25 was the original public name of the NRJ Group television channel launched in December 2012. Its schedule included lifestyle magazines, factual programmes, entertainment formats and acquired international series such as The X-Files, The Middle, Royal Pains, Rookie Blue and The Tudors. The name referred to the channel’s position on France’s TNT platform and preceded the later RMC Life identity.

• 2025

  Pursue a sale of the Chérie 25 frequencyM&A

  Background

  NRJ Group’s television strategy was affected by the non-renewal of NRJ 12’s TNT frequency, while the Chérie 25 frequency was due for renewal in 2027.

  Action taken

  NRJ Group confirmed on 21 March 2025 that it would consider selling or returning the frequency, with Lazard expected to manage the process.

  Aftermath

  CMA CGM and Daniel Křetínský’s CMI France were reported as interested parties, but the available material does not confirm completion or the final buyer.

  • CMA CGM — Rodolphe Saadé’s CMA CGM was reported as interested in acquiring the channel frequency.
  • CMI France — Daniel Křetínský’s CMI France was also reported as interested.

  Source

• 2012

  Rename the planned service from Chérie HD to Chérie 25Strategy

  Background

  NRJ Group changed the name of its forthcoming television service shortly before launch.

  Action taken

  The proposed Chérie HD service was renamed Chérie 25, reflecting its intended position on French TNT.

  Aftermath

  The channel launched under the Chérie 25 name on 12 December 2012.

  Source

• 2025

  NRJ Group confirms proposed sale of the Chérie 25 frequency[1]RMC Lifeen.wikipedia.org

  M&A · Regulation

  Following the non-renewal of NRJ 12’s TNT frequency, NRJ Group confirmed on 21 March 2025 that it would pursue the sale of the frequency used by Chérie 25, with Lazard expected to handle the mandate.

• 2012

  Chérie HD selected for a national high-definition TNT channel[1]RMC Lifeen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The French audiovisual regulator selected NRJ Group’s proposed Chérie HD service during the allocation of additional national high-definition digital terrestrial television channels.

• 2012

  Chérie HD renamed Chérie 25 before launch[1]RMC Lifeen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The planned channel changed its name from Chérie HD to Chérie 25 approximately two months before beginning broadcasts, reflecting its TNT channel number.

• 2012

  Chérie 25 begins broadcasting in France[1]RMC Lifeen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  The channel launched on French TNT, satellite and xDSL distribution on 12 December 2012.

1. 1RMC Lifeen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Chérie 25 official pagenrj-play.fr