Canal Plus set to takeover Poland's TVN

PARIS -- Vivendi's Canal Plus Group is holding exclusive negotiations with the ITI Group to acquire a controlling stake in Polish TV operator TVN. ITI expects to complete the sale of its 56% stake in TVN to Canal Plus by the end of the year, according to French newspaper Les Echos. TVN owns free-to-air channels, pay TV platform N -- the third largest in the country -- and website Onet. Canal Plus is already a major player in Poland through Cyfra Plus, which ranks as Poland's second largest satcaster with 1.5 million subscribers. The Polish pay TV market leader is Cyfrowy Polsat. Deal would allow Canal Plus to consolidate its position on Poland's pay TV market and step into the Polish free TV landscape. Earlier this year, ITI had initiated discussions with various potential buyers, including Time Warner, which was considered a frontrunner, along with Vivendi, to snap up TVN. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com