Canal+ Forms JV with Telecom Italia

France’s Canal+ has created a joint venture with Telecom Italia focused on acquiring rights and producing films and TV series.

The JV’s aim is to support Telecom Italia in developing a unique pay-TV offer in Italy, both linear and nonlinear. The joint venture will deal with Italian and international productions and joint productions, as well as the acquisition of sports and other rights.

The joint venture will be 60 percent owned by TIM and 40 percent by Canal+.

Jacques du Puy, CEO of Canal+ International, said: “We are very pleased to be teaming up with Telecom Italia for this project…to take foot on the Italian market. This is a major market and we are looking forward to developing together with TIM premium content by leveraging our expertise in the production of high-quality films, TV series and documentaries. In the last few months, Canal+ Group has also demonstrated its ability to create value for telecom operators following strategic partnerships with Orange, Free and Bouygues Telecom.”