Canal Group recorded “satisfactory progress” in subscriber development as the pay-TV operator continues to claw back its position in the French market.
In a preliminary statement released by parent Vivendi after the closure of the French Bourse on Thursday, the French media concern said over 3 million subscribers were signed up through wholesale deals offered by telecom operators.
The improvement has led Vivendi to bring forward its closure of the Saint-Denis call centre outside of Paris and another in Rennes, whose operating costs are double the amount charged by third-parties.
Outside of France, growth remains very strong. At the end of 2017, Canal Group’s global subscriber base totalled more than 15.5 million.
EBITA excluding restructuring is expected to increase by more than 30% to reach €365 million in 2017, having been revised downward to account for the additional charges within Canal.
