France’s Canal+ is interested in creating a joint venture with Italian telco TIM for the acquisition of audiovisual rights and the production of original films and series.

According to Italian media reports, the president of TIM and the CEO of Vivendi, Arnaud de Puyfontaine, informed the Board of Directors of the Italian telecom operator that he received such a proposal from Canal+.

The deal does not exclude sports coverage, in view of the auction for the 2018-2021 Italian TV rights for Serie A football that has been postponed for the autumn.

Although the project is still in the embryonic stage, Vivendi’s idea seems to be the creation of a large group based around TIM in Southern Europe that would offer convergent services (content, TV and telecommunications).

French daily Les Echos reported that Canal+ would be the name of the new Italian pay-TV platform. TIM would have the majority of the joint venture, while Vivendi’s Canal+ unit would be a minority partner.

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