Canal Plus to triple Direct 8 budget

Canal Plus plans to triple the budget of formerly Bolloré-owned free-to-air channel Direct 8 to €120 million, according to the French competition regulator.

Canal Plus is aiming to grow the channel’s audience share from 2.2% currently to about 4%

The channel’s programming will be boosted by new US series. Canal Plus’s other Bolloré acquisition, Direct Star, will be repositioned to appeal to a 15-35 demographic, with a programming line-up comprising French and US series as well as its core music programming.

Media regulator the CSA is expected to rule on the acquisition this month.