Germany’s Autentic buys Gédéon Media assets

German factual group Autentic has acquired a raft of assets from distressed French outfit Gédéon Media Group (GMG).

The deal, which comes two months after it was revealed Gédéon was facing liquidation, will see Beta Film-backed Autentic picking up Gédéon Programmes, MC4, and Docland Yard. The three production companies had been authorised to continue operations until 21 November following GMG’s bankruptcy.

The acquisition also includes GMG’s ongoing productions, a catalogue of around 3,000 hours of factual content, and a portfolio of digital channels. 

Financial details have not been revealed but GMG’s catalogue will be distributed by Autentic Distribution, with Gédéon’s sales arm Terranoa having been shut down immediately after news of the bankruptcy was announced.

GMG’s digital channels will be managed by Autentic’s Channels division, with production and development activities set to continue under the newly established French subsidiary Gédéon Studios.

The division will oversee all ongoing projects, which amount to around 25 hours of TV programming and two feature-length documentaries.

Staff shift to Gédéon Studios

A seven-member team from the existing organisation will join Gédéon Studios, including senior producers Laurence Favreau, Valérie Guerin and Coraline Roch, as well as head of development Mina Cuche.

GMG producer Carine Nonnenmacher will lead the studio, while the group’s founder and former president, Stéphane Millière, will also continue to work closely with the new company as senior consultant, programme development.

It was not immediately clear how many staff have lost their roles, although all at Terranoa were made redundant following the sales company’s closure earlier in the summer. 

Millière previously told Broadcast International that a combination of factors had caused the company’s downfall, with budget squeezes at Canal+ and France Télévisions hitting commissions. Sales subsidiary Terranoa saw its revenues drop by two-thirds, while investments in the VR and immersive sector had not paid off.

Patrick Hoerl, MD at Autentic, said the deal would provide his company with expanded reach in Europe and enable a more cost-efficient sales model.

“With Gedeon Studios in Paris, and Autentic in Munich, we will have teams in the two biggest markets in Europe,” he said.

“By combining the expertise of both companies, and using significant synergies in the monetisation of content, will make us more resilient in the current, challenging market environment.”

Hoerl also paid tribute to Millière and Gédéon’s contribution to the factual sector, with the company marking its 30th anniversary this year.

“Over more than three decades, Stéphane Millière and the Gédéon team have built an extraordinary legacy, establishing the company as one of the most respected names in factual production. We are proud to continue that journey together with the team in France, preserving valuable expertise and creative excellence while laying the foundation for the next phase of growth.”

Millière added: “I am very pleased that Autentic is taking over the assets of the Gédéon Group through a new company that will continue to build on the work of the outstanding editorial team that has worked alongside me to develop the brand, carry forward ongoing projects and distribute the catalogue established over the past 30 years.

“This alliance between two strong brands and two talented teams further strengthens the potential of Autentic for the years to come. I have the greatest respect for Patrick Hoerl, who has always been a passionate advocate for the documentary genre. I am delighted that he will become president of this new Gédéon.”

Background & context

Gédéon Programmes was founded by Millière in 1996 following the split of the original production company Gédéon into three distinct entities. It was a major player in the specialist factual documentary sector.

The company quickly made a name for itself in science and archaeology expedition documentaries, notably thanks to an underwater exploration of ancient Egypt’s Alexandria Lighthouse.

The company subsequently expanded into a broader media group, establishing international distribution arm Terranoa in 2000. It also acted as a third-party distributor, while Gédéon went on to acquire theatrical doc firm MC4, run by Jean-Pierre Bailly, in 2016.

Gédéon Programmes had been an active player in international co-productions. Among its recent credits, Arte has broadcast recently Asteroids: The Spark of Life - co-produced with WGBH/NOVA, PBS International, and NHK - as well as Sagrada Família, Gaudí’s Challenge, produced alongside Curiosity Studios, NHK, Atomis Media, and the Musée d’Orsay.

Shows being delivered include Lady Liberty: Secrets of an Icon, with partners including RTS, SBS, PBS, and SVT. The documentary was scheduled to premiere at Unifrance’s Rendez-Vous in Le Havre in two weeks.

Other shows in production are Docland Yard’s L’Odyssée du Ciel, which also involves Arte France, CMG, and CCTV-9, and is scheduled for release in 2027.