CANAL+ OVERSEAS Buys Majority Stake in THEMA

October 28, 2014 World Screen Top Stories

PARIS: CANAL+ OVERSEAS has entered into an agreement to acquire a majority stake in THEMA, which specializes in the distribution of generalist, specialist and ethnic TV channels.

THEMA distributes channels to cable, satellite and IPTV operators in France and internationally. THEMA also operates the African fiction channel Nollywood TV and distributes many ethnic multichannel packages to ISPs or operators. The company represents a portfolio of nearly 100 channels.

François Thiellet, THEMA’s CEO, will continue to manage and develop the company’s business with the support of his management committee.

Jacques du Puy, the CEO of CANAL+ OVERSEAS, said: “The acquisition of the THEMA group will speed up our development strategy, particularly in Africa, and will also provide us with vital marketing and publishing know-how with regard to ethnic content.”

Francois Thiellet, the CEO of THEMA, added: “We are proud and happy to be associated with CANAL+ OVERSEAS, whose resources and international presence will speed up THEMA’s growth worldwide.”