RTL sells off French unit
Video Communication France sold to MediaPro
VCF is a leading French TV transmission, studio and mobile unit production company. Company sources said its annual revenues are near $48 million.
Sale continues RTL Group parent Bertelsmann's retreat from noncore business and is another step in MediaPro's international growth as the pact gives it access to Euro markets. It already has moved into Portugal, creating production, distribution and services company Media Luso, and has offices in the U.S. and Argentina.
A heavily diversified conglom, MediaPro has driven hard into the contents biz, investing in rights brokering and film production company Esicma. In late 2000, it created MediaCarlton, a 50-50 joint production venture with the U.K.'s Carlton Communications.
MediaPro is run by Jaume Roures, a former exec at Catalan pubcaster TV 3, and Jaume Ferrus, one-time general manager of Sogecable-owned digital TV platform Canal Satelite Digital. It reported revenues of $123 million in 2001.
