Vivendi makes triple acquisition

French media group Vivendi has continued its content push by acquiring three independent producers and distributors.

Vivendi boss
Vincent Bolloré

Vivendi said the acquisitions of Can’t Stop Media, Flab Lab and La Parisienne d’images “reinforce its capacity to develop and produce new formats.”

The companies could become part of the new Vivendi Content division. The branch was created in January with the aim of conceiving and investing in new forms of TV and music content, and was originally presided over by Rodolphe Belmer.

Dominique Delport, MD of advertising company Havas – which is controlled by Vivendi boss Vincent Bolloré’s Bolloré Group – is expected to replace Belmer as Vivendi Content president.

London-based distributor Can’t Stop Media, run by Zodiak Media alum Mathieu Porte, was already working with Vivendi-owned Canal+’s free-to-air DTT channel D8, sourcing international formats and distributing some of its programming.

Can’t Stop has also initiated original unscripted shows for both D8 and the international market, including format Mum of the Week and doc Back to the Present.

La Parisienne d’Images – the prodco run by Gilles Galud and responsible for successful Canal+ comedy-drama Hard – has been rebranded Studio+ and is now in charge of developing original digital series for new platforms.

Flab Lab had already been focusing most of its efforts on Canal+ programming, producing several shows for the group including Canal Football Club and Le Tube.

Following the internal crisis at Canal+ during the summer, when Bolloré took the helm at the channel, Flab Lab was entrusted with the production of flagship daily talkshow Le Grand Journal, which was previously produced by Zodiak Group’s KM Productions.