French private broadcaster TF1 Group and Discovery Communications have entered into exclusive negotiations to forge a strategic alliance.
In a statement, Discovery said that the alliance is “intended to create value for both companies across their numerous complementary business activities in three key areas.”
The three areas are driving the growth of TF’s pan-European sports channel Eurosport; enhancing both companies’ pay-TV offerings in France; and developing a mutually beneficial content production relationship.
This alliance would include investments by Discovery in some of these key businesses. There are no further details to share beyond this statement, according to Discovery.
The proposed partnership follows an earlier investment by Discovery in French broadcaster Televista in which it took a 20% equity stake in Televista last March.
The TF1 Group’s channels are TF1 (a general entertainment channel), TMC, NT1, and HD1 (to be launched in December 2012).
The TF1 Group is also has a presence in pay-TV through TV Breizh, Ushuaïa TV, Histoire, Stylía and LCI.
