All My Thoughts

Orange and Canal Plus negotiate a partnership

July 26, 2010 – 4:10 am

France Telecom and Canal Plus are negotiating a partnership that could see the two groups merge TPS Star and at least one channel from the bouquet Orange Cinema Series, Monday wrote Le Figaro and La Tribune, without citing sources.

Discussions could be officially announced this week at the board of directors of France Telecom, also state the two newspapers.

The new entity would be owned equally by both groups and would be a credible alternative to Canal Plus.

The advantage of this for the competition authority would terminate the exclusive distribution of Orange cinema series subscribers to France Telecom and TPS Star in strengthening its role as a rival to Canal Plus.

Two years after its launch, Orange Cinema Series boasts 480,000 subscribers and is valued at more than 200 million euros, writes Le Figaro.

A spokesman for France Telecom declined to comment on these articles and no one was immediately available from Canal Plus.

• Michelin takes its revenge in the press
• The Elysee imposes a strategic alliance between EDF and Areva
• HSBC wants to buy up to 70% of South African Nedbank
• The EU validates the agreement between British Airways, American and Iberia
• GDF agrees with Publigas to sell its 38.5% in Fluxys