The Walt Disney Company France (
French: La Société Walt Disney), formerly Buena Vista International France, is one of
The Walt Disney Company's international divisions and also European divisions. It is headquartered in
Paris,
Île-de-France.
The Walt Disney Company France is in charge of all Disney's brands and productions in France. The company also owns and operates French versions of Disney television channel and the
Disneynature film unit. The Walt Disney Company France also co-produces content with other French media companies.
History
Gaumont Buena Vista International
Gaumont and
Buena Vista International formed Gaumont Buena Vista International, their joint venture French distribution company, in 1992.[1] In March 1997, Disney would launch
Disney Channel in France,[2] also serving Luxembourg and Switzerland.[3]
After the July 2001 purchase of Fox Family Worldwide, Disney also got a major ownership interest in Fox Kids Europe, which included Fox Kids in France. Fox Kids switched over to
Jetix in August 2004.[4][5]
Toon Disney, Disney Channel +1, a timeshift channel, and a
Playhouse Disney channel launched in 2002.[3][6] As of 30 June 2004, BVPD and Gaumont dissolved their French distribution joint venture, Gaumont Buena Vista International.[1]
Buena Vista International France
On September 4, 2007, Disney Cinemagic replaced Toon Disney.
On November 30, 2008 at 8:30 PM,
Disney Cinemagic HD debuted in France broadcasting on CANALSAT from 6am to 1am daily,[7] making the channel the first "children and family HDTV channel in a French market".[8]
Jean-Francois Camilleri, head of the company, had the company acquire March of the Penguins for the French market. Buena Vista International France also managed to obtain a 20% ownership stake in the French version of the film. However, Buena Vista Pictures Distribution's bid to distribute the film in the US ultimately failed.[9] At the formation of the
Disneynature film unit, Camilleri was placed in charge of the unit.[10]
Walt Disney Company France
In 2011, Disney Channel HD was launched and
Disney Junior replaced the Playhouse channels.[3][6] Disney Cinemagic in France was replaced by Disney Cinema in May 2015.[11] In 2012, a Disneynature cable TV channel was launched in France. It is currently carried by
France Telecom.[12]
Camilleri resigned his posts with Disney France in March 2019. While Helene Etzi was appointed to take over his responsibility as head of Disney's French operations, there was no word on who would helm Disneynature.[13]
Divisions
Cinema
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures France (former Buena Vista International France), distribution unit.
Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment France (former Buena Vista Home Entertainment France), video distribution unit.
Disneynature, a film unit that produces documentary.
Television
Disney Channel, flagship channel, it launch on March 22, 1997.
Disney Channel +1, a +1 time shift channel. (The only time shift variant of Disney Channel still active since 2020).
Disney Junior, a channel aimed mainly at children 2–7 years old. It launched in 2011 replacing Playhouse Disney.
Streaming service
Disney Channel Pop Pick Play, a service dedicated to
Disney Channel productions, include in some TV packages.
Disney English, an educational service include in some TV packages.
Holà Disney, an educational service include in some TV packages.
Disney Hachette Presse, a magazine publisher co-own with
Hachette Filipacchi Médias, closed in 2019. All publications are now published by Unique Heritage Media as part of a licensing agreement with The Walt Disney Company France.
Television
Toon Disney and Toon Disney +1, a channel launched in 2002 and closed in 2007, replaced by
Disney Cinemagic.