Canal+ is given three years to buy the UGC cinemas network

Thunderbolt after the announcement of an exclusive partnership between Canal+ and UGC. A major player in the media and entertainment, the group led by Maxime Saada confirmed that he was going to take a minority participation of 34% in UGC capital, with a takeover planned for 2028. This strategic alliance between the two giants in the sector aims to strengthen their respective influence on the cinematographic market, by combining their forces and by ensuring the future of production and cinematographic exploitation in France.

A rapprochement between two heavy goods vehicles

Founded in 1971, UGC is one of the main operators of cinemas in France, with a network of 55 multiplexes, including 48 located in France and 7 in Belgium. The company attracts millions of spectators each year and has an impressive catalog, with popular films like The student Ducubu and his consequences, multi-re-generated author films (A prophet,, The Father) or successful series such as Hpi.

For its part, Canal+, via its studiocanal subsidiary, is the European leader in production and film distribution, with nearly 200 films and 80 series per year, fueling its offer for its 27 million subscribers in 52 countries. By uniting their forces, the two companies intend to amplify their influence on the market, in particular in a context where the modes of film consumption evolve quickly.

An alliance to the service of growth

The entry of Canal+ into the capital of UGC is the start of a process of close collaboration between the two groups, with a clear objective: to increase the scope of Studiocanal and strengthen cinematographic exploitation in theaters. Maxime Saada, Chairman of the Management Board of Canal+, expressed his enthusiasm concerning this alliance, saying that “The Combination of Studiocanal with UGC, a long -standing strategic partner, would accelerate the development of our business and support our commitment to French cinema”.

This operation will allow Canal+ to extend its presence in the cinema sector while retaining its diversification strategy. Indeed, one of the major challenges for the group is to maintain high visibility through the rooms in theaters, a broadcast channel which remains essential despite the competition of streaming platforms. UGC, on the other hand, benefits from the solidity of the Canal+ group and its international network, which could also accelerate the opening of new markets and the distribution of films worldwide.

French cinema in the face of new challenges

This agreement comes in a context where the French film industry faces several challenges, notably the growing competition of streaming platforms and the evolution of spectators’ behavior. The COVVI-19 pandemic accelerated this transformation, with a significant drop in the attendance of rooms, forcing the players in the sector to reinvent their economic models.

This partnership between Canal+ and UGC – which had started with a common offer for children under 26 – could offer an answer to these challenges, strengthening the attractiveness of cinemas and combining the resources necessary to guarantee the sustainability of the sector. In addition, collaboration between the two groups highlights the importance of innovation and diversification to meet the needs of modern spectators.

Gradual takeover

The first stage of this acquisition provides for a minority equity of 34% in UGC. However, the agreement also has a longer term dimension. Canal+ could take total control of the company from 2028, with negotiations that will continue in the coming years. he processes could be subject to consultations with representative staff and other administrative formalities. However, the objective of strengthening cooperation between the two entities seems well advanced, which worries part of the profession.

In a thread on the social network BlueskyJules Le Hénand stresses in fact that by integrating a large group on the stock market, UGC is exposed to a risk for the survival of cinemas, likely to close in the event of a drop in the course. A problem already observed with Gaumont and Pathé, that the marketing manager for The best in cinema quotes as an example, as in the United States where bankruptcies are multiplying in the sector.

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