NextRadio TV preps DTT acquisition
April 7, 2015
From Pascale Paoli-Lebailly in Paris
French media group NextRadio TV, operator of the free DTT news and discovery channels BFM TV and RMC Découverte, has entered into exclusive talks to buy Numero 23 for €90 million.
Founded by Pascal Houzelot, creator of gay pay-TV channel Pink TV, Numero 23 is one of the last DTT HD channels launched in December 2012.
According to NextRadio TV, Numéro 23 would complement RMC Découverte’s line-up of programmes and will be handled by the same team.
With a 0.7 per cent audience share last February, up 50 per cent compared to 2014, Numero 23 is among the healthier DTT channels, but financially it doesn’t quite break even yet. It is currently owned by Houzelot, who has a 70 per cent stake, along with private investors and Russian group UTH.