Endemol-Shine merger in France given greenlight

Endemol Shine Group’s production companies in France have been given clearance to merge.

The Autorité de la Concurrence has been assessing the merits of Shine France and Endemol France merging, and has now agreed to greenlight the move, saying it was “unlikely to affect competition”.

This means all of Endemol Shine’s local production companies are now working as merged entities in their operating territories.

Endemol France’s productions include Secret Story, Money Drop and TF1 drama L’Emprise, while Shine France is behind local versions of The Island and Supernanny, local series The Big Music Quiz, and Sky copro The Tunnel. It produced Talpa Media formats such as The Voice until recently.

Endemol Shine co-owner 21^st Century Fox also operates networks such as National Geographic, Nat Geo Wild and Baby TV in the territory. However, the Autorité ruled neither company was producing the type of thematic programming these networks typically commission, and therefore did not pose a threat of Fox commission Endemol Shine over other prodcos.

Last year, TBI revealed the plan to merger Endemol and Shine in France, with Endemol France chief Nicolas Copperman (pictured) installed as CEO of the merged group.

Shine France bosses Theirry Lachkar and Bouchra Réjani have both chosen to exit as the merger nears.

“We welcome the decision from the Autorité de la Concurrence,” said an Endemol Shine spokesman. “With this go ahead we can formally bring together Endemol France and Shine France to form a new creative and dynamic powerhouse as Endemol Shine France under the Leadership of Nicolas Coppermann.

“We look forward to outlining further details of this in due course.”