Clapperboard and Capa Drama owner has a price tag of around €400m (£345m) attached
TF1 in France is exploring the sale of its production and distribution arm Studio TF1.
The move, first reported by Reuters, comes less than two years since the French broadcaster rebranded the division that had previously been known as Newen Studios.
The unit is behind shows ranging from Blind Sherlock to Cat’s Eyes and HIP (High Intellectual Potential), and is valued at around €400 (£345m).
Investment bank Rothschild has been appointed to oversee the sales process, which remains at an early stage.
Studio TF1 owns more than 50 production labels in a dozen countries ranging from UK-based Clapperboard to French duo Capa Drama and Pupkin, and Spanish group iZen.
The production and distribution division is led by former Warner Bros Discovery exec Pierre Branco, who joined in 2023 and said last year that he wanted to expand the company’s film output and leverage the TF1 brand oversees, with the US of particular interest.
He also detailed plans to start distributing its own productions in France and an ambition to double film production by 2027, targeting 10–15 movies per year.
Studio TF1’s distribution operation is run by Rodolphe Buet, who oversees a library that runs to more than 24,000 hours. Its productions include Apple TV+ original Liaison, Paramount+ UK returner The Serial Killer’s Wife, Amazon Prime Video war epic Dark Hearts, and aforementioned breakout TF1 manga remake Cat’s Eyes.
The potential sale comes as parent company TF1 faces ongoing advertising pressure, with half-year revenues reported last week down almost 10%.
The firm has been looking to increase its focus on streaming, striking a far-reaching deal with Netflix that has seen TF1 channels and its on demand content becoming available on the global SVoD in France.
TF1 has also recently been linked with a takeover of fellow French commercial broadcaster M6, following a failed attempt to combine operations four years ago.
The move mirrors a similar strategy by UK counterpart ITV, which recently agreed a deal that will see its production and distribution division - ITV Studios - becoming a standalone company.
Broadcast International has contacted Studio TF1 for comment.
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