AB launches French factual channel

France’s AB Group has teamed up with publishing outfit Mondadori Magazines France (MMF) to launch a new factual channel, Science & Vie TV.

According to the pair, the partnership will combine MMF’s scientific and editorial expertise with AB Group’s TV channel knowhow. MMF publishes a monthly magazine of the same name that last year celebrated its centenary.

Science & Vie TV will launched in spring next year and will be produced by AB’s thematic channel arm, AB Thématiques. The group said its ambition is to create a reference channel for the sciences both in France and internationally.

“We are very happy with our partnership with Mondadori, which reinforces AB Group’s channel offering thanks to Science & Vie’s expertise and reputation and which opens up important development opportunities, notably in relation to documentary production, which we have made a strategic priority,” said Orla Noonan, director-general of AB Group.

MMF president Carmine Perna said that “the signing of this agreement represents a unique opportunity for a title that already counts close to four million readers. Its extension into television is an opportunity to reach a still larger public”.