Page 16 - 2012 Annual Report

VIVENDI l 2012 l Annual Report 16
GROUP PROFILE – BUSINESSES – LITIGATION – RISK FACTORS 1
1
SECTION 2 - BUSINESSES
CANAL+ GROUP
SECTION 2 BUSINESSES
2.1. CANAL+ GROUP
Canal+ Group is the largest Pay-TV group in France. With 11.4 million
subscriptions to all of its offerings in France and French-speaking countries
in Africa, it is a leading producer of premium and specialty channels as
well as a leader in the collection and distribution of Pay-TV offerings.
The group’s portfolio totals 14.3 million subscriptions, including its
international activities in Poland and Vietnam.
A pioneer in the development of new television services and a major
player in the production and distribution of feature films, Canal+ Group
has, in addition, successfully developed projects in free-to-air television.
Canal+ Group believes that the markets and business activities where
it is already present in France and outside France offer development
opportunities that will enable it to consolidate and strengthen its position.
It aims to offer its subscribers the best content and services in terms of
exclusivity, quality, mobility, freedom and customization. The rapid and
large-scale development of new technologies, in particular ADSL/fiber
networks and connected devices (smartphones, tablet computers, game
consoles, connected TV sets), represents a real opportunity for the group
to implement this ambitious strategy.
Canal+ Group has set as its primary goal the continuation and acceleration
of its short and medium-term growth. It already possesses all the
necessary attributes to achieve it: a dynamic culture based on sharing
of experiences, exchange of expertise and cost synergies between
entities, as well as a proven ability to adapt to market developments
in France and abroad. Strengthening the recognition and reputation
of Canal+ and CanalSat brands is also part of the group’s strategy.
Finally, Canal+ Group intends to exploit the areas of growth that it began
to achieve in 2012 in free-to-air television: in France, with the acquisition
and re-launch of the D8 and D17 channels; and abroad, with the help of its
strategic partnership in Poland with the ITI and TVN groups.
2.1.1. Strategy/Positioning
2.1.2. Pay-TV in France
2.1.2.1. PROGRAMMING ACTIVITIES
CANAL+ CHANNELS
Canal+ Group produces and broadcasts five premium channels with
exclusive, original and innovative programming:
✱ a general-interest channel (Canal+), which offers movies, sports,
information, drama, documentaries and entertainment programs; and
✱ four high added-value channels (Canal+Cinéma, Canal+Sport,
Canal+Family and Canal+Décalé), featuring their own programs.
In 2012, together these channels (the Chaînes Canal+) broadcast more
than 510 films, including approximately 370 on Canal+ alone.
Canal+ Group’s expertise is also widely recognized in sports coverage. In
total, the Chaînes Canal+ cover more than 60 sports competitions, offering
an average of over 5,500 hours per year, most of which are live: League
1 soccer, the major foreign championships (including the English Premier
League, the Spanish La Liga, the Italian “A” Series and the German
Bundesliga) and the Champions League, as well as the Top 14, European
Cup rugby, tennis, and golf from all over the world (including the Vivendi
Seve Trophy).
SPECIALTY CHANNELS
Besides the premium channels, Canal+ Group produces and broadcasts
22 specialty pay channels: movies (seven Ciné+ channels), sports (Sport+,
Infosport+, Golf+, which was launched on July 4, 2012), documentaries
(four Planète+ channels), lifestyle (Cuisine+, Maison+, Seasons), series
(Jimmy, Comédie +) and children’s programming (Piwi+, télétoon+ and
télétoon+1).
2.1.2.2. BUNDLING ACTIVITIES
Canal+ Group bundles channels together into packages or theme packs.
The premium package consists of the Chaînes Canal+, and the CanalSat
package consists of specialty channels.