VIVHY - Canal Plus in advanced talks to acquire Orange media groups - Variety

• France's Canal Plus Group ( OTCPK:VIVHY ) is in advanced talks to take over the film, TV and pay TV units of incumbent French telecom Orange ( NYSE: ORAN ), Variety reports.
• The deal would also include the acquisition of content division Orange Studio, which co-produces films, sells them abroad and distributes them in France, according to the report.
• Vivendi's ( OTCPK:VIVHY ) Canal Plus already owns a third of Orange's pay TV unit, OCS, and has been distributing it through its cable bundle since 2011.
• OCS has an exclusive multi-year deal with HBO ( WBD ) coming to an end in early 2023, which will present a challenge in luring new subscribers - and Canal Plus would have the leverage to strike a new deal with an expected combined HBO-Discovery+ service.
• Canal Plus and Orange could enter exclusive talks as soon as September, which would subject the deal to antitrust approval, according to the report.

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