New specialized channels, convergence …: NUMERICABLE-SFR operator turns into content – Le Figaro

(AOF) – Vincent Bolloré (Canal +) has warned in its business turnaround of the encrypted channel, he will find himself facing a competitor has announced a strengthening of its content offering. Thus, the operator SFR, while his project to create a group converge between the broadcast networks (telecom networks) and content, will launch in the coming months five Pay TV specialized in Sport (Sport1 SFR, SFR Sport2, Sport3 SFR SFR SFR and Sport4K Sport5).

Second line of development in content announced this morning by SFR, the telecoms operator will turn into creator and producer of series. It will rely on it for the Hot skills, another subsidiary of Altice Group, also parent of SFR.

So, between sport and the original series, the SFR group arrives very clearly on field of Canal +. The announcements made this morning round off a building the first brick was laid in late 2015 with the acquisition of broadcasting rights of English football championship. These were precisely held by Canal + in recent seasons.

In addition to these two areas of expansion in the scope of SFR, the new strategy will also address the press. Indeed, this morning SFR entered into exclusive negotiations for the acquisition of Altice France Media Group currently managed at the parent company Altice. This division includes over 20 press titles in France (L’Express, Libération, L’Expansion, The Student, strategies …). The proposed transaction values ​​Altice Media Group France at an enterprise value of 241 million euros. Therefore SFR subscribers, but also all users who subscribe to the pay offer, will have access to news content on mobile devices.

Sport, Entertainment, SFR information … a fourth segment selected to deploy its convergence strategy: the “news”. The operator has announced the launch of two new generalist channels, Sport and BFM BFM Paris. As these headings, the group will rely on the expertise of the group NextradioTV (RMC, BFM …), co-owned 49% by Altice. SFR will again buy that stake to its parent, valuing NextradioTV 741 million euros.

In response to these announcements, Societe Generale does not expect that these measures enable SFR to attract new subscribers and keep its customer base to its current level. He noted in addition that they will result in an increase in debt of SFR and provides a ratio of net debt to Ebitda four in 2016. It was 3.7 at the end of 2015.

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