Canal+ Buys Nigeria’s ROK

France’s Canal+ has acquired the Nigerian film and television studio ROK, a leader in Nollywood content.

Canal+ has acquired ROK’s production, content distribution and publishing channels. As part of the transaction, IROKO will also take full control of the JV IROKO+, the leading SVOD platform in French-speaking Africa.

ROK Founder Mary Njoku will continue in a leadership role as director-general of ROK Productions and maintains a material shareholding in the company.

ROK will produce thousands of more hours of Nollywood content to deliver movies and original TV series for Canal+ Group’s audiences in French-speaking Africa. Canal+ Group will continue to collaborate with IROKO, with non-exclusive content distribution of ROK content via the IROKOtv SVOD app.

The move comes as CANAL+ Group looks to strengthen its content production reach in Nigeria and across Africa.

“ROK has captured the imagination of millions of movie fans, and they have truly supported us as we’ve grown the company to celebrate and enjoy our African culture,” said Njoku. “I’m excited to be taking our platform on the next stage of its journey with Canal+ group, who share our passion for creating original content, supporting new talent and together, we have ambitious plans for the future.”

Jacques du Puy, CEO of Canal+ International, said, “Through this acquisition Canal+ group is very happy to develop and enhance the catalog of Nollywood contents and expand the ROK brand inside and outside the African continent.”