Mediawan S.A. is a French media conglomerate and audiovisual international production and distribution group.[4] It was founded on December 15, 2015, by Xavier Niel, Matthieu Pigasse and Pierre-Antoine Capton under the legal form of a special-purpose acquisition company ("SPAC") with the purpose to acquire assets and operations in the media production and distribution business in Europe.[4][5][6][7][8][9][10] Their ambition for the company was to become "one of the largest platforms for European content".[11][8]
Company type | Private |
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ISIN | FR0013247137 |
Industry | Entertainment |
Predecessor |
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Founded | December 15, 2015Paris, France | , in
Founders |
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Headquarters | , France |
Key people | |
Revenue | $1.3 billion[2] |
Owner | KKR[3] |
Divisions |
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Subsidiaries | See § Assets |
Website | www |
History
editMediawan was founded on December 15, 2015, as an acquisition service, with the company's plan was to form an audiovisual international group through acquisitions across France and Europe in the entertainment or media industries.
The company went public on April 22, 2016,[7] raising €250 million ($310 million).[4]
In January 2017, Mediawan announced that it had entered exclusive negotiations to acquire French audiovisual production, broadcasting and distribution company AB Groupe from its co-founder Claude Berda who had a 53% stake of the company alongside media company TF1 Group who owned a 33.5% stake, for €270 million.[12][13]
In June 2017, Mediawan announced exclusive talks to acquire a majority stake in Paris-based French documentary production company Clarke Costelle & Co. (CC&C) [14] One month later in July of that same year, Mediawan announced that they've completed their acquisition of a majority stake in Paris-based French documentary audiovisual production company Clarke Costelle & Co (CC&C). Also in the same month, they announced that they purchased the remaining 35% stake in Luxembourgish television channel RTL9 from its previous parent company RTL Group.[15]
In December 2017, Mediawan had announced exclusive talks to acquiring a majority stake of Paris-based entertainment, audiovisual and animation company ON Entertainment who owns film production house Chapter 2 and it's animation label Method Animation under the ON Kids & Family label for about €50 million.[16][17][18] One year later in June 2018, Mediawan announced that they had completed their acquisition of a majority stake in ON Entertainment, the acquisition marked Mediawan's first entry into the animation market. Mediawan then announced that due to their acquisition of ON Entertainment, it was restructuring its operations into four groups with the ON Entertainment joining Mediawan's portfolio and renamed as ON Kids & Family with Chapter 2 moving under Mediawan.[1]
In January 2018, Mediawan announced that it had acquired EuropaCorp's French television production division EuropaCorp Television (which was previously known as Cipango) and renamed the division into Storia Television expanding Mediawan's drama portfolio and becoming the biggest producer of television fiction content and expanded their international content. They also announced that they've in exclusive negotiations to buy a 60% majority stake in Paris-based French scripted production company Mon Voisin Productions and a majority stake in French television production group Makever along with their 7 independent production companies.[19][20][21][22] Two months later in March of that same year, Mediawan announced that they've completed their acquisition of a majority stake in French scripted television production group Makever Group along with their production subsidiaries.[23] Seven months later in October of that same year, Mediawan announced that they've completed their acquisition of a majority stake in French scripted production company Mon Voisin Productions.
On 11 October 2018, Mediawan rebranded AB Groupe as Mediawan Thematics.[24]
In December 2018, Mediawan announced that they've acquired a 50% stake in French film production company Mai Juin Productions and placing it under their content production division Mediawan Originals with the founder of Mai Juin Productions Gilles de Maistre joining Mediawan under their pool of talent.[25]
In January 2019, Mediawan announced that they've entered a deal to acquire a 53% stake in Italian independent production outfit Palomar, marking Mediawan's first acquisition outside of France.[26] Two months later in March of that same year, Mediawan announced that they've completed their acquisition of a 53% majority stake in Italian independent production company Palomar
In April 2019 one year after Mediawan brought ON Entertainment, Mediawan announced that they've established a partnership with world-known French author and illustrator Joann Sfar to adapt his works into film and television with the acquisition of a majority stake in Joann Sfar's animation production company Nice Pictures and placed it under ON Kids & Family.[27]
In May 2019, Mediawan announced that they've joined forces with French producer Noor Sadar and Belgian production company Entre Chien et Loups to launch a French production company dedicated to genre and low-budget films named Black Swan Tales.[28]
In October 2019, Mediawan announced that there buying a majority stake in French film production company Radar Films in order for Mediawan to move into French and international series, expanding Mediawan's film production operations with Radar Films was placed under Mediawan's film production activities and will use their investment develop French and English-language films.[29][30]
In February 2020, Mediawan announced that they've acquired a majority stake in Paris-based French premium documentary and scripted production company Black Dynamite, expanding Mediawan's documentary production activities.[31]
In June 2020, Mediawan announced that their children's subsidiary ON Kids & Family had rebranded their Joann Sfar's Paris-based production company Nice Pictures as their mini-studio to Magical Society with Veteran animation producer and founder of Method Animation and producer Aton Soumache and award-winning publisher Joann Sfar heading the rebranded company.[32]
On 22 June 2020, Mediawan announced the creation of a dedicated pan-European company named Mediawan Alliance with them announcing that they've established an agreement to acquire a minority stake in German production and distribution company Leonine Holding and announced that they've entered negotiations to buy French entertainment production and distribution company Lagardère Studios and their production subsidiaries including its distribution division from the Lagardère Group for €100 million that could further expand Mediawan's production portfolio and further expand Mediawan's international operations into other countries like Spain in order for Lagardère to focus on its publishing and travel retail operations. Mediawan also announced that they brought a majority stake in Spanish-based content production company Good Mood expanding their Spanish operations. Mediawan's division Mediawan Alliance announced that they've in exclusive negotiations to buy the French hip-hop group Troisième Œil's audiovisual activities.[33][34][35] Five months later on November 2 of that same year Mediawan announced that they've completed their acquisition of French international production and distribution company Lagardère Studios and their production subsidiaries including its distribution division from the Lagardère Group along with their pan-European division Mediawan Alliance had completed their acquisition of the French hip-hop group Troisième Œil's audiovisual division and a minority stake in German audiovisual production and distribution company Leonine Holding, with the former being folded into Mediawan's expanded portfolio turning Mediawan into a pan-European entertainment production powerhouse. They also announced that they've taken a minority stake in Madrid-based Spanish production company Weekend Studio.[36][37][38] On November 11 of that same year following the acquisition of Lagardère Studios, Mediawan announced that they're forming a Spanish production hub based in Spain named Mediawan Studios Spain with their three Spanish production companies being placed in that new division.[39]
In March 2021, Mediawan announced that they're launching a SVOD service dedicated to documentaries which was named Explore, marking their first French streaming service and will be exclusively via Apple TV.[40]
In July 2021, Mediawan along with German audiovisual production and distribution company Leonine Holding announced that they formally renamed their joint venture production division Mediawan Alliance as Mediawan & Leonine Studios and had announced it had jointly acquired a majority stake in British-based drama production company Drama Republic, marking the first time Mediawan had entered the British television market alongside Leonine Holding.[41][42] Later in that same month Mediawan announced their acquisition of a majority stake in Chi-Fou-Mi Productions.[43]
In June 2022, Mediawan announced that they're bringing all of their kids and family activities and ramping up their youth entertainment content with the formation of Mediawan Kids & Family which would replace ON Kids & Family, with their animation labels Method Animation, Magical Society and ON Classics being placed under the newly renamed division. Mediawan also announced that they've launched two new production labels which was traditional animation production studio Somewhere Animation and live-action studio Elliot Studio which would be part of the division, along with Mediawan Kids & Family launching their own distribution label which will handle all of their live action and animated programmes along with third-party programmes.[44][45][46]
In September 2022, Mediawan announced that they're teaming up with Oscar-winning French film maker Florian Zeller to launch French-American film and television production company based in Paris and Los Angeles named Blue Morning Pictures with Mediawan financing and producing their film and television projects.[47][48]
In October 2022, Mediawan announced that their international distribution division Mediawan Rights had entered the Web3 Space by launching their own metaverse dedicated for buyers to access Mediawan's catalog releases and connect with sales executives named Metawan.[49]
On 30 October 2022, Mediawan announced that they were in exclusive talks to acquiring in a significant stake Brad Pitt's American film and television production studio Plan B Entertainment.[50] Two months later in December 2022, Mediawan announced it had acquired a significant stake in Brad Pitt's Los Angeles-based American film and television production studio Plan B Entertainment and was placed under Mediawan's operations with Mediawan launching their dedicated US division named Mediawan US.[51][52]
In February 2023, Mediawan announced that their children's division Mediawan Kids & Family had acquired a majority stake in Bristol-based British scripted and animation production company Wildseed Studios, making it Mediawan Kids & Family's first international acquisition with Wildseed Studios became a production label.[53]
In April 2023, Mediawan announced that it had brought a majority stake in Amsterdam-based Dutch independent film and television production company and animation production studio Submarine, expanding Mediawan's animation and film & television production activities along with Mediawan's expansion into Netherlands.[54][55][56]
In May 2023, Mediawan announced that they've acquired Ivory Coast-based African independent audiovisual content production and distribution company Côte Ouest Audiovisuel and placing it under their division Mediawan Africa expanding Mediawan's African operations with Mediawan's long-time partner Canal+ International continuing to hold a minority stake in Mediawan's acquired company Côte Ouest Audiovisuel.[57][58]
In July 2023, Mediawan announced that they've acquired a majority stake in Paris-based French film production company 24 25 Films.[59]
On 16 January 2024, Mediawan announced that they've brought a majority stake in London-based British documentary production company Misfits Entertainment, expanding Mediawan's factual production output and their English-language production activities.[60][61]
In April 2024, Mediawan which already held a 25% minority stake in Germany-based film distribution company Leonine Holding since 2020 announced it was taking full control of Leonine Holding by acquiring the remaining stakes in the company, also owned by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, in an all-stock deal, with pending subject to be approved from German authorities.[62]
In May 2024, Mediawan announced that they along with independent animation studio ZAG which both previously produced Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir under their brands Method Animation and Zagtoon had teamed up to launch a new joint venture production and IP holder label named Miraculous Corp. that will bring all of the components of the successful Miraculous franchise under one label with Mediawan holding a 60% stake in the new label placing it under their Mediawan Kids & Family division.[63][64][65]
In August 2024, Mediawan announced that they've acquired a majority stake in Rome-based Italian film and television production company Our Films.[66][67]
In September 2024, Mediawan announced that they've signed a global content production partnership with professional basketball player LeBron James and Maverick Carter's American entertainment production company SpringHill Company to produce and develop film and television series and adapt existing IP together along with explore international distribution opportunities starting with Weekend Warriors.[68]
On 23 November 2024, Sky News reported that CVC Capital Partners, TF1, RedBird Capital Partners, All3Media, Mediawan and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts had been linked to a potential takeover bid for ITV plc and a possible break-up of core assets such as ITV Studios and ITVX.[69]
Assets
editAssets owned by Mediawan include:[70]
Region/Country | Units |
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Africa |
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Finland |
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France |
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Germany |
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Italy |
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Netherlands |
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Spain |
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United Kingdom |
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United States |
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International |
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Former/Defunct |
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References
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- ^ Tartaglione, Nancy (October 31, 2022). "Plan B's Plan A Might Be Equity Sale To French Company Mediawan". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on October 31, 2022. Retrieved October 26, 2024.
- ^ a b c "Mediawan Acquires EuropaCorp's French TV Division". The Hollywood Reporter. 2018-01-15. Retrieved 2018-12-27.
- ^ "Mediawan". CB Insights. Retrieved 2018-12-27.
- ^ "Pigasse, Niel et Capton lèvent 500 millions pour racheter des médias". Le Figaro (Le Figaro.fr). 2015-10-05. Retrieved 2018-12-27.
- ^ a b "Niel, Pigasse et Capton lancent Mediawan, leur société commune dans les médias". Le Figaro (Le Figaro.fr). 2016-04-12. Retrieved 2018-12-27.
- ^ a b "Mediawan joins big league in TV content with offer for Groupe AB". Reuters. 2017-01-30. Retrieved 2018-12-27.
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