Groupe MCM

MCM Group, also known as Groupe MCM and formerly Euromusique-MCM, is a French television company built around thematic entertainment channels. Its best-known channel is MCM, a music-oriented service that helped establish the group’s identity in French television. Over time, the portfolio expanded beyond its original music-video focus to include additional music, youth and general entertainment services, as well as channels distributed in international markets. The company was created by Europe 1 Communication, linking its origins to the French radio and media groups that developed specialized television services during the expansion of thematic broadcasting. MCM became the central brand in the portfolio, while other services were introduced or acquired to address different audience segments. These included MCM Top, a channel focused on music programming, and MCM Pop, a pop-music service whose Portuguese branding continued as RFM TV. The wider group also had connections with channels such as Mezzo, Muzzik and MCM Africa, although these assets did not all remain under the same ownership or operating structure. In 2000, Europe 1 Communication was integrated into Lagardère Active. Around the same period, Lagardère Active formed a digital and thematic-channel alliance with Groupe Canal+, under which Canal+ took a 49 percent interest in the relevant channels. This arrangement reflected the importance of partnerships and cross-shareholdings in the French pay-television and digital-channel market. It also became a regulatory issue when the French broadcasting regulator, the Conseil supérieur de l'audiovisuel, rejected certain digital-terrestrial television licensing arrangements on the grounds that joint ownership structures did not satisfy the applicable requirements. The planned i-MCM project was subsequently renamed Europe 2 TV and launched under that new identity. The group’s portfolio changed repeatedly through channel sales, closures and mergers. MCM Africa was sold to Modern Times Group and was later replaced by Trace Urban. MCM Belgique ceased broadcasting at the end of 2009. Muzzik was merged with Mezzo in 2002, combining two music-channel propositions into an international service. Virgin 17, another channel associated with the broader thematic portfolio, was sold to the Bolloré group and later became Direct Star and then D17 after further ownership changes. Mezzo was ultimately acquired by Groupe Canal+ and Les Échos-Le Parisien, the latter being associated with LVMH. A major ownership transition occurred in May 2019, when Lagardère sold most of its television assets, including MCM, to Groupe M6. The channels were incorporated into M6’s thematic-channel division, M6 Thématiques. MCM and related services therefore continued as part of a larger French broadcasting group rather than as an independent Lagardère television portfolio. The group’s contemporary significance lies less in a standalone corporate identity than in the continued operation and distribution of MCM-branded thematic channels within the M6 ecosystem.

Groupe MCM originated as a French television company created by Europe 1 Communication. Its central MCM channel developed a music-oriented identity during the growth of thematic television, and the company later assembled a broader portfolio of music and entertainment services. The group’s activities included MCM, MCM Top and related channels, while other services such as MCM Africa, MCM Belgique, Muzzik, Mezzo and Virgin 17 were connected with the portfolio at different points in time. In 2000, Europe 1 Communication was integrated into Lagardère Active. Lagardère then entered into a digital alliance with Groupe Canal+, which acquired a 49 percent interest in the relevant thematic channels. The partnership was part of a wider effort to develop digital and pay-television services in France. It also created regulatory difficulties for plans involving digital terrestrial television. The Conseil supérieur de l'audiovisuel cancelled licenses associated with joint ownership arrangements, including the proposed i-MCM service. That project was renamed Europe 2 TV and eventually launched under the new name. The portfolio subsequently underwent significant restructuring. Muzzik merged with Mezzo in April 2002, creating a combined international music channel. Christophe Sabot led the company from 2003 to 2008, followed by Emmanuelle Guilbart from 2008 to 2010. MCM Africa was sold to Modern Times Group and replaced by Trace Urban. MCM Belgique was closed at the end of 2009. Virgin 17 was sold to Bolloré and passed through later identity changes, becoming Direct Star and then D17. Mezzo was eventually acquired by Groupe Canal+ and Les Échos-Le Parisien. The decisive ownership change came in May 2019, when Lagardère sold most of its television assets, including MCM, to Groupe M6. M6 incorporated the channels into M6 Thématiques. MCM Group is therefore best understood as the historical and portfolio identity behind a set of French thematic television channels, with the MCM brand continuing within the ownership structure of Groupe M6.

1. 2019MCM joins Groupe M6

   Groupe M6 acquired MCM and other Lagardère television assets and placed the channels in M6 Thématiques.

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2. 2009MCM Belgique closes

   The Belgian MCM service ceased broadcasting on 31 December 2009.

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3. 2002Muzzik merges with Mezzo

   Muzzik and Mezzo were combined into an international music-television service.

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4. 2000Europe 1 Communication joins Lagardère Active

   Europe 1 Communication was integrated into Lagardère Active, placing the MCM television activities within Lagardère’s media portfolio.

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5. 2000Canal+ takes a minority interest in thematic channels

   Groupe Canal+ took a 49 percent share in the thematic channels through a digital alliance with Lagardère Active.

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A French thematic television operator centered on music, entertainment and youth-oriented programming, with a portfolio shaped by channel partnerships, ownership changes and international distribution.

• MCMMusic and entertainment television channel

  MCM is the group’s principal television brand and the service most closely associated with Groupe MCM. It originated as a music-oriented channel and helped define the company’s identity in French thematic television. Its programming model sits within the broader entertainment and music-channel market, alongside related MCM services and other specialist channels distributed by the group.

• MCM TopMusic television channel

  MCM Top is a music-focused channel in the MCM portfolio. Its proposition is centered on music programming and chart-oriented entertainment, extending the group’s original music-television positioning with a more specialized service.

• RFM TVMusic television channel

  RFM TV is a music and entertainment channel associated with the former MCM portfolio. In Portugal, the service retained the MCM Pop name, illustrating the group’s use of differentiated branding across markets.

• MCM AfricaMusic television channel

  MCM Africa was the group’s African music-channel service. It was sold to Modern Times Group and later replaced by Trace Urban, ending its role as an MCM-branded service.

• MCM BelgiqueMusic television channel

  MCM Belgique was the Belgian version of the MCM service. It ceased broadcasting on 31 December 2009.

• MuzzikMusic television channel

  Muzzik was a music television channel associated with the group before merging with Mezzo in 2002. The combination created an international music-channel operation.

• Virgin 17Entertainment television channel

  Virgin 17 was part of the wider thematic television portfolio. It was sold to Bolloré and subsequently operated under the Direct Star and D17 identities after later ownership and branding changes.

• 2019Transfer of MCM to Groupe M6M&A

  Lagardère decided to sell most of its television assets as part of a broader portfolio restructuring.

  What changed. Groupe M6 acquired MCM and incorporated the channel into its M6 Thématiques unit.

  Aftermath. MCM continued within the M6 thematic-channel structure rather than as part of an independent Lagardère television portfolio.

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• 2005Rename the i-MCM digital-terrestrial projectStrategy

  The French broadcasting regulator cancelled licenses connected with joint ownership arrangements involving the Lagardère and Canal+ television interests.

  What changed. The planned i-MCM project was renamed Europe 2 TV and launched under the new identity.

  Aftermath. The episode demonstrated the regulatory constraints affecting ownership and digital-terrestrial channel launches in France.

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• 2019Lagardère sells MCM television assets to Groupe M6

  Lagardère transferred most of its television assets, including MCM, to Groupe M6. The channels were subsequently incorporated into M6 Thématiques.

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• 2009MCM Belgique closes

  The Belgian version of MCM ended its broadcasting operations on 31 December 2009.

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• 2002Muzzik merges with Mezzo

  Muzzik was combined with Mezzo to form an international music-television service.

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• MCM Africa is sold and replaced by Trace Urban

  MCM Africa was sold to Modern Times Group and subsequently replaced by Trace Urban.

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1. Groupe MCM