Canal+ Ups Stake In Asian Streamer Viu; See-Saw Snaps Up Plimsoll Drama Boss – Global Briefs
Janice Lee, Viu CEO and PCCW Media Managing Director PCCW
Canal+ Ups Stake In Asian Streamer Viu
France’s Canal+ has increased its stake in Viu to 36.8% as part of its $300M investment in the Southeast Asian streamer. This represents the last instalment of the cash injection and follows a strategic agreement Canal+ struck with Viu parent PCCW last year in June. The initial investment was $200M for a 26.1% stake, meaning it likely has paid $100M for the further 10.7%. Canal+ has the option to increase its stake in Viu to 51% in the future. Viu currently operates in 16 markets across Asia, the Middle East and South Africa and claimed to have over 62 million active monthly users, with 13 million paying subscribers, as of December 2023. It recorded revenues of $314M last year, which represented growth of 23% year over year. Original productions for the service have come out of Korea, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Hong Kong and China. Vivendi-owned Canal+ claims to have 1.2 million subscribers in the Asia-Pacific region and has been focusing on building out streaming stakes in Viu and in Africa, where it is in the process of buying Showmax parent MultiChoice.
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See-Saw Films Snaps Up Plimsoll Drama Boss
See-Saw Films has snapped up Plimsoll Productions‘ BAFTA-winning drama boss. Lisa Gilchrist joins as an exec in the UK office and is one of three hires for the Slow Horses, Heartstopper and Power of the Dog producer. Gilchrist was most recently overseeing factual dramas and returners for Tiny World maker Plimsoll. Her past credits include a wealth of BAFTA TV winners including The Moorside, Appropriate Adult and Mo. Meanwhile, Young Wallander producer Luke Franklin, who was previously running Yellow Bird’s UK office in London, has joined the LA and London team as an exec, with a focus on returning series, while Fremantle Australia’s Ana Jimenez becomes development exec in Sydney. Upcoming shows for See-Saw include Netflix’s Apple Cider Vinegar and Sky adaptation Sweetpea. Gilchrist and Franklin will report to Helen Gregory, See-Saw’s Creative Director, while Jimenez reports to Head of Film and Television, Liz Watts. “We’re delighted to welcome Luke and Lisa and the different perspectives they bring to the See-Saw UK slate,” said Gregory.