TF1 Group

TF1 Group
French: Société Anonyme
Traded as Euronext: TFI
Industry Media
Founded 1987
Headquarters Boulogne-Billancourt, France
Key people
 Nonce Paolini (Chairman and CEO)
Products Television broadcasting and production, websites, media investments
Revenue €2.622 billion (2010)[1]
€313.2 million (2010)[1]
Profit €228.3 million (2010)[1]
Total assets €3.325 billion (end 2010)[1]
Total equity €1.548 billion (end 2010)[1]
Owner Bouygues (43%)
Number of employees
 3,800 (end 2010)[1]
Website www.groupe-tf1.fr

TF1 Group is a French media holding company (French: Groupe TF1), the owner of channel TF1, the largest European private TV channel, and of a 49% stake in Eurosport.

The group was formed after TF1 was privatised in 1987. It is controlled with a 43% stake by Bouygues, is quoted on Euronext Paris.

Operations

Television

TF1 Group owns or has a direct stake in the following television channels:

In June 2009 TF1 Group agreed to buy the NT1 channel from AB Groupe, as well as AB's 40% stake in TMC Monte Carlo (which would take TF1's total stake to 80%). The deal was cleared by France's competition authority and subsequently by the Council of State in December 2010, dismissing an appeal by Métropole Télévision.[2] As part of the same transaction the group raised its stake in WB Television to 49%.[3]

On 21 December 2012, Discovery Communications purchased a 20% stake in Eurosport from TF1 Group for €170m.[4] Discovery has the option to increase its stake to 51% in 2014. Should Discovery exercise its option, TF1 Group would have the ability to then exercise a put option over the remaining 49% that would see Discovery take full control.[5] Discovery also took a 20% share in TV Breizh, Histoire, Ushuaia TV and Stylia – for €14m, with the option of increasing its shareholding to 49% in each channel in 2014. Discovery and TF1's production arm will also work together on making programmes.

Other assets

The firm holds a number of other interests in the advertising, internet and publishing fields, including 34% of Metro International's operations in France.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 "Annual Report 2010" (PDF). TF1 Group. Retrieved 4 May 2011.
  2. ↑ Le Galès, Yann; Renault, Enguérand (30 December 2010). "TF1 autorisée à racheter TMC et NT1". Le Figaro (in French). Retrieved 4 May 2011.
  3. ↑ Vidalon, Dominique; Jacobs, Caroline (28 May 2009). "TF1 in exclusive talks to buy digital TV assets". Reuters (Forbes). Retrieved 2009-09-19.
  4. ↑ "TF1 & Discovery Communications finalize agreement and move forward to build three-tier strategic alliance across Eurosport, four payTV channels and production" (Press release). TF1 Group. 2012-12-21. Retrieved 2013-01-23.
  5. ↑ "Discovery moves into sport with a 20% stake in Eurosport". The Guardian. 13 December 2012.

External links