After a protracted period of courting, French media giant Canal+ is on the verge of acquiring the PayTV and film assets of leading telco Orange, according to reports in leading French newspaper Les Echos. According to the respected news outlet, employees of Orange divisions OCS and Orange Studio were advised yesterday that negotiations are accelerating and a deal could be unveiled in a matter of days.
Vivendi-owned Canal+ has always been in poll position to acquire Orange’s PayTV division OCS because it already owns a 34% stake in the business and has an ongoing commercial arrangement with it. The addition of Orange Studios also makes sense because it could be folded into Canal+’s production and distribution arm StudioCanal. Other potential suitors such as Mediawan are now believed to be out of the equation.
Despite having around 3 million subscribers, OCS is reported to be…
