Euope Images continues its fast-track expansion
Under terms of the deal, Europe Images is licensed to distribute Les Films D'Ici's 250 hours of product for the next five years, in the process getting hold of one of the best French documentary catalogues around.
The agreement is the latest in a series of negotiations that leaves the distrib repping about 4,500 hours of drama, children's programming, animation and documentaries. That means since Europe Images was set up in 1990, company topper Jean Rouilly has developed one of the largest libraries in Europe.
Earlier this year, Rouilly signed up with France's largest rights holding company, UGC DA, to distribute its TV product, estimated at slightly more than 3 ,000 hours. That deal involved UGC DA taking a 38% stake in Europe Images, which in turn has 10% of UGC DA via Hachette subsid Europe 1 Communications.
In recent weeks, Rouilly has pacted with toonster IDDH to distribute its animation series, has taken over distribution of Gedeon Decouvertes' adventure documentaries and has picked up drama from a string of producers including Swiss-based Telvetia.
"We are basically concentrating our efforts on animation, children's programs and documentaries," Rouilly said at the Mip TV mart. "With 4,500 hours of programs, we have hit the critical mass I wanted -- now we will continue to work on our editorial line."
Rouilly hopes to persuade producers to hand over distribution to his company by offering the widest range of possible deals, including straight library acquisitions, putting up minimum guarantees, taking a license mandate for a set period, co-producing or inviting companies to take an equity stake in Europe Images.
The company's growth reflects the difficulty some indie producers are having in distributing their own product.
