The operator is in negotiations to sell its film and pay-TV asset to Canal+
Variety reports that the operator is in exclusive negotiations to sell its film and pay-TV business to Canal+, owned by Vivendi.
The deal apparently involves Orange Studio, which co-produces, distributes and sells rights to films, and streaming video business OCS (previously known as Orange Cinéma Séries), which has about 2.9 million subscribers.
Vivendi owns a third of OCS, and in 2011 had tried to acquire and merge it with Canal+ but it was blocked by regulators concerned about reduced competition. The competitive landscape is very different now, though: Netflix is France’s biggest video streaming service.
This is just the latest in a series of moves to divest interests outside Orange’s core activities by Christel Heydemann (pictured), who became CEO in April.
She is apparently looking to offload Orange Bank – a central pillar of her predecessor’s diversification strategy – and has appointed a new head of Orange Business Services whose remit it to focus on digital services. Aliette Mousnier-Lompre was confirmed as CEO of Orange Business Services after six months as acting CEO in May.