Advanced Television

Altice’s BFM TV eyes 50% of Vià

November 5, 2019

From Pascale Paoli-Lebailly in Paris

Altice France’s news channel BFM TV is seeking to expand locally and planning to take half of the shares of local television network Vià. According to newspaper Journal du dimanche (JDD), an official announcement could be made in early December and the new structure is set to be named BFM Vià Régions. It will comprise of 22 channels.

New studios are being built in Paris from which Vià, whose network is composed of 200 video reporters, will launch Vià Matin, its own daily news channel, next January.

This challenger private local network is reportedly concerning pubcaster France Télévisions, whose channel France 3 has created a leading network of local TV channels. Last September, BFM TV launched BFM Lyon Métropole, its first full regional version after BFM Paris.

Vià Network was created in 2017 and owns six services in Montpellier, Paris, Nîmes, Toulouse, Perpignan and Martinique and aggregates twelve others affiliated to regional press groups.

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