Canal+ Polska completes acquisition of majority stake in film distributor

Canal+ Polska has completed its purchase of a majority stake in local film distributor Kino Świat, opening the way for it to develop new business through ownership of the rights to distribute a catalogue of over 2,000 hours of films and 1,200 TV productions.

Edyta Sadowska

The deal gives Canal+ Polska owner ITI Neovision a 70% stake in the company. A minority shareholding will remain in the hands of Kino Świat’s current owners Tomasz Karczewski and Marcin Piasecki, who will remain on the company’s board and will take an active part in managing and further developingthe distributor.

Frederic Berardi, Canal+ Polska’s vice-president and financial director, has been named as chairman of Kino Świat, while the pay TV operator’s deputy financial director, Marta Pałucka, and programme director, Anna Limbach-Uryn, have been named as vice-presidents of the film distributor.

Canal+ Polska has also created a five-member supervisory board for Kino Świat, comprising Canal+ CEO Edyta Sadowskaas chair, Canal+ legal department chief Agnieszka Gotlibowska-Horoszczakas vice -chair, and StudioCanal managing director Anna Marsh, Blue Dot presidentPaweł Karczewskiand Synerium managing partnber Piotr Krawczyńskias members.

“Canal + has been investing in the Polish film market for almost 25 years, which makes us the leader in premium pay TV. Kino Świat is a leading content distributor, which has been building its strong position in the extremely demanding local market for 19 years. Canal+’s production experience, business facilities and the international reach of our brand will allow us to further develop the Kino Świat content catalogue and extend its distribution,” said Sadowska.