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Vivendi dumps Canal CEO
The Supervisory Board at Canal+ has sacked CEO Rodolphe Belmer, replacing him with Maxime Saada, the current executive vice-president of Canal+ Group, and head of pay-TV.
CFO Grégoire Castaing has been appointed to the Canal+ Group Management Board.
Saada is a graduate of the Paris Institute of Political Studies and holds an MBA from HEC Paris.
Belmer had been expected to take over from Canal Plus president Bertrand Meheut, who has now been confirmed in the role.
It brings to an end a turbulent week at the French pay-TV operator that is feeling the influence of Vincent Bolloré, who holds 15% of owner Vivendi.
VINCENT_BOLLORE_DECEMBRE_2012Bolloré is concerned Canal is in need of freshening up; it’s been losing audience to free-to-air channels while revenues are also in decline.
Les Guignols de L’Info, Canal’s popular satirical show, appeared to be ending its time after 27 years.
But in a softer line, Bolloré’s spokesman said it was out of the question that the channel would be deprived of the show. It was however to be decided in what form the show would return from its summer break.
