Pierre-Antoine Capton, founder of Mediawan, defended the company's identification as a French entity amidst allegations regarding major American investment in its ownership.
In the ongoing inquiry into public audiovisual, Pierre-Antoine Capton, the founder and president of Mediawan, has taken a stand to clarify the company's nationality. During a hearing, he emphasized that Mediawan is predominantly a French enterprise, despite the involvement of the American investment fund KKR in its equity. This statement came in response to claims made by Charles Alloncle, the rapporteur for the inquiry, who has asserted that Mediawan's significant production contracts with France Télévisions are not supported by a purely French ownership structure.
Capton articulated his dissatisfaction with the perception that Mediawan operates under American control, insisting that such statements misrepresent the company's identity and ownership. Mediawan is recognized as a leading player in the European audiovisual sector, having produced successful series such as "10 pour cent" and "Miraculous". Capton's remarks seek to reinforce the narrative of Mediawan as a homegrown French success story amidst growing scrutiny concerning foreign investment in national media.
The inquiry's aim is to assess the implications of foreign ownership within France's audiovisual landscape, particularly focusing on how this affects cultural production and media independence. Capton's defense mirrors broader concerns in France about maintaining national identity and control over media narratives in the face of increasing global investment from foreign firms. As discussions progress, the debate surrounding Mediawan's ownership will likely contribute to larger conversations about sovereignty and cultural integrity within the French media sphere.
