Canal+ Group & Les Echos – Le Parisien Group Buy Mezzo

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The Les Echos – Le Parisien and Canal+ groups have announced the 50/50 acquisition of Mezzo from Lagardère Group and France Télévisions.

Mezzo operates and broadcasts two pay-TV channels dedicated to classical music, jazz and dance: Mezzo (concerts, operas, ballets, masterclasses, documentaries) and Mezzo Live HD (concerts, operas in high definition). Distributed in 80 countries, Mezzo has a footprint of some 60 million households around the world, as stand-alone channels or integrated into pay-TV packages.

Les Echos – Le Parisien Group will have responsibility for the Mezzo team, as well as programming, including design of grids, program purchases, productions or co-productions of programs. It will also oversee marketing and communication.

Canal+ Group will handle sales to international operators via its Thema distribution branch, in addition to the broadcasting of the channels and technical services for all modes of transmission.

Pierre Louette, chairman and CEO of Les Echos – Le Parisien Group, said: “This acquisition confirms our desire to develop a diversified range of thematic media, particularly in the world of culture. Mezzo is the opportunity to consolidate a leading media center in classical music alongside Radio Classique, owned by the group and the first radio station in France in this segment.”

Maxime Saada, chairman of the board of Canal+, added: “Although positioned on a niche segment, Mezzo is a recognized brand both in France, with our subscribers, and internationally as evidenced by its distribution in more than 60 million households throughout the world. We are delighted to support its development by relying on the assets of the Canal+ Group.”