17
Annual Report -
2013
-
Vivendi
Group Profile |
Businesses
| Litigation | Risk Factors
1
Canal+ Group
2.1.4.
International Pay-TV
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2.1.4.1. Overseas regions and territories and
French-speaking countries
Canal+ Group has developed its pay-TV operations internationally
through its subsidiary Canal+ Overseas. In overseas territories, its
Canal+ and Canalsat offerings provide access to over 200 channels,
predominantly in French.
In French-speaking Africa, the subsidiary Canal+ Afrique operates in
over 30 countries in Central and West Africa, as well as in Madagascar.
Since 2012, due to a change in satellite, its offerings cover new
territories (the entire Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda and
Burundi).
Canal+ Overseas has a total of 2.05 million subscribers, including
1.08 million in Africa, where the Company is showing strong growth.
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2.1.4.2. Poland
Since 2012, Poland has been the second-largest market for
Canal+ Group, which was historically represented by its subsidiary
Cyfra+.
On November 30, 2012, Canal+ Group, ITI and TVN announced the
finalization of their strategic partnership to combine their pay-TV
channel packages in Poland and for the Canal+ Group to acquire a
significant interest in the capital of TVN. The combination of Cyfra+ and
the TVN “n” package resulted in the creation of a new company, nc+,
of which Canal+ Group holds 51%, with TVN Group holding 32% and
UPC 17%.
nc+ publishes approximately 10 channels, including 4 premium channels.
It offers the broadest and highest quality television programming in
Poland, particularly in sports, with the best of Polish and European
soccer, including the Champions League and the English, Spanish and
Italian championships. nc+ also holds the principal broadcasting rights
for the most popular sports in Poland, such as handball and speedway.
Movies are also integral to the nc+ offering. Each year, subscribers can
find approximately 500 exclusive premier films on the Canal+ premium
offering, the majority being major Hollywood productions.
At year-end 2013, nc+ had 2.2 million subscribers.
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2.1.4.3. Vietnam
K+ is a package of satellite channels operated by VSTV, the Vietnamese
subsidiary of Canal+ Group. The package specifically includes five
premium K+ channels produced and broadcast by Canal+ Group, with an
ambitious rights acquisition policy, especially in sports. The K+ offerings
have a large distribution network, with over 2,600 outlets and eight
proprietary stores (K+ stores).
At year-end 2013, K+ had approximately 600,000 subscribers.
2.1.5.
Other Business
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Studiocanal
Studiocanal, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Canal+ Group, is a leading
European player in the field of production, acquisition, distribution and
international sales of movies and TV series. It operates directly (theater
distribution, video, digital and TV) in the three main European markets
(France, the United Kingdom and Germany) as well as in Australia and
in New Zealand. It also boasts one of the largest film catalogs in the
world, with over 5,000 titles.
Studiocanal is developing an ambitious international production
policy. It is the only studio in Europe to have signed a co-financing
agreement (slate financing) with an investment fund (Anton Capital
Entertainment) to significantly increase its investment capacity. Most
recently, Studiocanal provided full financing for films such as
Inside
Llewyn Davis
by the Coen Brothers, winner of the Grand Prix at the 2013
Cannes film festival,
Non-Stop
by Jaume Collet-Serra and
Serena
by
Susanne Bier. It also financed
The Gunman
, directed by Pierre Morel,
Macbeth
, directed by Justin Kurtzel, the forthcoming Stephen Frears film
on Lance Armstrong,
Paddington
, produced by David Heyman (producer
also of the Harry Potter films) and
Shaun the Sheep
, in collaboration
with Aardman Animations.
In local production, Studiocanal has invested in films such as the comedy
Salsa Fury
in the United Kingdom, and in France in the films
Boule et Bill
by Alexandre Charlot and Franck Magnier,
Casse-tête chinois
by Cédric
Klapisch,
Barbecue
by Eric Lavaine and an adaptation of the hit comic
strip
Lou!,
directed by Julien Neel. The studio is expected to make an
announcement in relation to German productions In the near future.
Studiocanal is extremely active in producing family and animated films.
It is the exclusive partner of nWave, a production company that is a
European leader in 3D production (
Sammy
,
Le Manoir magique
).
Studiocanal is also expanding in the area of television series,
strengthening its position as a European leader in content production.
Since January 2012, it has been the majority shareholder of Tandem
Communications (the European leader in the production and sale of
international TV series), and since December 2013, of Red Production
Company (a British production company specializing in popular English
television series).
