Les Echos, Canal+ acquire Mezzo

French media company Les Echos-Le Parisien Group and pay TV operator Canal+ have bought pay TV channel operator Mezzo from Lagardère Group and public broadcaster France Télévisions.

Maxime Saada

Mezzo operates pay TV channels Mezzo and Mezzo Live HD, which are dedicated to classical music, jazz and dance.

Distributed in 80 countries, Mezzo is received by 60 million households globally and owns rights to 700 programmes.

Following the acquisition of Lagardère and France Télévisions’ stakes, Les Echos-Le Parisien will assume responsibility for the firm’s staff, marketing and communications and programming, the latter including purchases, productions and coproductions.

Canal+ will manage sales to international operators via its Thema distribution arm and will take charge of broadcasting the channels and technical services for all modes of transmission.

Les Echos-Le Parisien and Canal+ now each own 50% of Mezzo.

Pierre Louette, chairman and CEO of Les Echos-Le Parisien, 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 centre in classical music alongside Radio Classique, owned by the group and the first radio station in France in this segment.”

Maxime Saada, chairman of Canal+, added: “Although positioned in a niche segment, Mezzo is a recognised brand both in France, with our subscribers, and internationally, as evidenced by its distribution in more than 60 million households throughout the world.”