Can’t Stop starts again as indie

Can’t Stop will shop gameshow Guess My Age

UK-based formats firm Can’t Stop Media is relaunching as an independent company five years after it was acquired by France’s Vivendi Entertainment.

Can’t Stop Media, led by Matthieu Porte, Arnaud Renard and Damien Porte, has struck a new deal with Vivendi making it the international distributor for IP controlled by its former owner.

Vivendi-owned Canal+, meanwhile, will get a first look at new ideas developed by Can’t Stop for the next two years. The new shows created under this deal will be distributed by Can’t Stop.

Shows to be sold by Can’t Stop include Guess My Age, Couple or Not, The Secret Song, Facing the Classroom, Mum of the Week, Secrets of the Pyramids Builders and The Guignols. The latter is a classic French satirical puppet format which is currently being developed in the US by Fox and Ben Silverman’s Propagate Content.

Porte said: “As entrepreneurs, we’re excited to fly on our own in order to catch all the market’s opportunities, while keeping a strong business relationship with Canal+.”

Renard added that going independent will give the company more flexibility to launch new IP with international potential and capitalise on opportunities with Netflix, Amazon, French and international broadcasters.

Porte said: “After taking advantage of being part of a large group to strengthen our relationships with global clients like Sky, Endemol Shine Group, Mediaset, RTL, Discovery and Fox, we now look forward to cultivating these strong ties, with the added flexibility and fast reactivity in distribution processes we can enjoy as an independent.”

Gerald-Brice Viret, general manager in charge of broadcasting at Canal+ Group, said: “We are happy to maintain a preferred relationship with Can’t Stop Media for the years to come. I’m wishing them lots of success in their new venture.”