15
Annual Report -
2013
-
Vivendi
Group Profile |
Businesses
| Litigation | Risk Factors
1
Canal+ Group
Section 2
Businesses
2.1.
Canal+ Group
Canal+ Group is the leading French audiovisual group in France. It is
a leading producer of premium and special-interest channels as well
as a leader in the collection and distribution of pay-TV offerings, in
France and internationally, particularly in Africa, Poland and Vietnam.
The Group’s portfolio totals 10.4 million individual subscribers and
14.7 million subscriptions. Recently, the Group successfully developed
projects in free-to-air television.
A pioneer in the development of new television services, it is also a
major player in the production and distribution of feature films.
2.1.1.
Strategy / Positioning
Canal+ Group believes that the markets and business activities
where it is already present, in France and abroad, offer development
opportunities that will enable it to consolidate and strengthen
its position.
Canal+ Group 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 and 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-term and medium-term growth. It already
possesses all the attributes to achieve this: 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 the Canal+ and Canalsat brands is also part of the Group’s
strategy.
Finally, the Group intends to better exploit growth opportunities
implemented in free-to-air television: in France, with the purchase 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.
2.1.2.
Pay-TV in France
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2.1.2.1. Programming activities
Canal+ Channels
Canal+ Group produces and broadcasts six premium channels with
exclusive, original and innovative programming:
a general interest channel (Canal+), which offers movies, sports,
news, drama, documentaries and entertainment programs; and
five high added-value channels (Canal+Cinéma, Canal+Sport,
Canal+Family, Canal+Décalé and Canal+Séries), featuring their own
programs.
In 2013, these channels (the
Chaînes Canal+
) together broadcast over
480 films, including approximately 310 on Canal+.
Canal+ Group’s expertise is also widely recognized in sports coverage.
In total, the
Chaînes Canal+
cover over 60 sports competitions, offering
an average of over 5,500 hours per year, the majority of which is live:
League 1 soccer, the major foreign championships (including the English
Premier League, the Italian “A” Series and the German Bundesliga), the
Champions League, as well as the Rugby Top 14 in France, European
Rugby Cup, the French basketball championships and golf from all over
the world.
Special-Interest Channels
In addition to the premium channels, Canal+ Group produces and
broadcasts 22 special-interest premium channels: movies (six Ciné+
channels), sports (Sport+, Infosport+ and Golf+, which was launched
on July 4, 2012), documentaries (four channels Planète+ and Seasons),
lifestyle (Cuisine+ and Maison+), series (Jimmy and Comédie+) and
children’s programs (Piwi+, télétoon and télétoon+1).
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2.1.2.2. Bundling activities
Canal+ Group bundles channels together into packages or theme
packs. The premium package consists of the
Chaînes Canal+
, while the
Canalsat package consists of special-interest channels.
Canalsat consists of over 150 channels, including some produced and
broadcast by the Group (the “+” channels), as well as special-interest
channels from other producers (20 are offered exclusively). Canalsat is
available on satellite and ADSL, as well as on DVB through the Minipack
(which includes five special-interest channels and free national
channels). Canalsat can also be accessed via Internet on PC and Mac
computers, as well as on mobile devices, with over 100 direct broadcast
or on-demand channels via the website and the new myCanal interface.
