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Business Wire
7 days ago
- Business
- Business Wire
Xilam Animation: First-Half 2025 Revenue
PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Regulatory News: Xilam Animation (Paris:XIL), Academy Award®-nominated French animation studio, announces its revenues for the first half of the 2025 financial year, drawn up on 30 June 2025. Marc du Pontavice, Chairman and CEO of Xilam, comments: 'First-half activity reflects the strategic shift initiated several months ago, in partnership with major European broadcasters, towards proprietary productions, which follow longer cycles and pursue a dual objective: more recurring value creation levers and less dependency on servicing. During the first half, Xilam continued production of two highly promising new series— Piggy Builders and Submarine Jim —as well as a new family feature film, Lucy Lost, and announced the launch of Turbo Twins. These new projects were enthusiastically welcomed at the Annecy Festival, reinforcing our confidence in their international sales potential. In the second half of the year, expected deliveries will support a significantly higher level of activity than in H1, and the high-potential young adult series The Doomies will premiere on Disney+. 2025 will remain a year focused on rebuilding the order book in a rapidly evolving market, where Xilam maintains its strength and leadership in French animation thanks to its agility and unique creative expertise.' (1) Unaudited data (2) Total grants (new production and catalogue) (3) Estimated Audiovisual Tax Credit (ATC) Sales of new productions and developments Sales of new productions and developments came in at €2.0 million, down sharply due to the halt in order from international streaming platforms, as well as the low level of deliveries for proprietary productions. These are expected to rise significantly in the second half of the year, driven by projects launched in 2024. As anticipated, proprietary productions have become predominant, now accounting for 65% of total revenue (compared with 29% in H1 2024), with partial deliveries of two series: Piggy Builders, in partnership with France Télévisions, the BBC, and ZDF, and Chicky Season 4 for France Télévisions. These figures only partially reflect the Group's activity, as Xilam invested a total of €8.6 million in its new proprietary productions during the first half. These investments will contribute to revenue generation through 2027. Stable catalogue sales Catalogue sales amounted to €2.2 million. As in the first half of 2024, catalogue activity should be assessed on a full-year basis, with the second half traditionally much stronger, particularly due to AVOD advertising revenues which are concentrated in the fourth quarter. By refocusing on the proprietary model, Xilam aims to strengthen catalogue sales over time, in order to generate more recurring revenue and restore satisfactory profitability. Total sales, excluding grants, of €4.2 million International sales accounted for 77% of total revenue, stable compared to the first half of 2024. The Kids segment—historically a core strength of the Group—represented 94% of total sales, up significantly from 57% in H1 2024. Total operating revenue of €6.0 million Grants amounted to €1.4 million, bringing total revenue including grants to €5.6 million. Other current operating income came to €0.4 million, bringing total operating revenue to €6.0 million. A strong reception for Xilam's new slate at the Annecy Festival. At the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, Xilam presented its new family-friendly line-up, featuring both epic cinematic adventures and vibrant comedies, which received an enthusiastic welcome and sparked strong interest from international broadcasters. The Group unveiled a first glimpse into Lucy Lost, its new moving and powerful feature film, co-written and directed by Olivier Clert and adapted from the best-selling novel Listen to the Moon by Michael Morpurgo. Xilam also showcased three new proprietary series currently in production: Submarine Jim, with France Télévisions and Super RTL already on board, for a Kids' audience. Jim, a naive, young dolphin, is steering the world's first-ever submarine on wheels. He is leading a motley crew of underwater friends on a whirlwind journey across land and sea. Piggy Builders, commissioned by France Télévisions (France), BBC (UK) and ZDF (Germany), for a preschool audience. The charismatic siblings with curly tails share a deep love for building, problem solving and their wonderful community in Fine Forest. Turbo Twins, a new comedy action CG animation series in partnership with commercial French broadcaster TF1 for a Kids' audience, aged 8 to 11. The fastest K.A.R. racers are battling out for a place at Nationals— but the Turbo Twins are far from being the favorites. Elimination—and going home—is simply not an option. And when high-octane racing meets summer camp life, buckle up! Planned Transfer of Listing to Euronext Growth Xilam has filed an application to transfer the listing of its shares from the Euronext Paris regulated market (Compartment C) to Euronext Growth Paris, in order to benefit from a more flexible regulatory framework suited to its current market profile. As a matter of best practice, the Company plans to retain certain accounting and governance standards that are mandatory on Euronext's regulated market—most notably, the continued use of IFRS consolidated financial statements. As part of this transfer, which is expected to take effect in the third quarter, the Group intends to maintain regular engagement with its shareholders and investors. A year dedicated to rebuilding the order pipeline and refocusing on proprietary production model The year 2025 reflects the industry's cyclical downturn and ongoing restructuring, marked by a swift reduction in production overcapacity. Xilam is well prepared to navigate this period thanks to its strong fundamentals: A highly robust balance sheet, fully debt-free at the end of 2024. The strength of its brand, the creativity of its talent, and excellence in execution, which position Xilam as a key player at the heart of the global animation industry—both in series and feature films. The depth and appeal of its catalogue built around three flagship brands: Oggy and the Cockroaches, Zig & Sharko, and Chicky. Second-half revenue is expected to show a clear improvement over the first half, driven by ramped-up deliveries of Piggy Builders and Captain Jim, as well as the catalogue's typically stronger performance in the latter part of the year due to seasonality. Nonetheless, the Group confirms that revenue is expected to decline in 2025, reflecting the transition to a predominantly proprietary model—before a return to growth in 2026. Calendar About Xilam A major player in animation, Xilam is an integrated studio founded in 1999 that creates, produces and distributes original programmes in more than 190 countries for both children and adult audiences. Xilam content is broadcast on television, and is also available on SVoD platforms including Netflix, Disney+, Amazon and AVoD streaming platforms including YouTube and Facebook. With its creativity and capacity for innovation recognised worldwide, its unique expertise in CGI, as well as editorial and commercial expertise at the cutting edge of its industry, Xilam is positioned as a key player of the market. Each year, Xilam builds real successes and capitalises on its powerful historical brands including Oggy and the Cockroaches, Zig & Sharko and Chicky, as well as new properties such as Oggy Oggy for a preschool audience, Mr Magoo and Karate Sheep, and Academy Award® nominated adult feature film I Lost My Body. Additionally, Xilam produced the forthcoming horror comedy The Doomies, for Disney+. Xilam's expanding and strong catalogue now consists of over 2,800 episodes and three feature films. Xilam employs more than 400 individuals, across its studios in Paris, Angoulême in France and Ho Chi Minh in Vietnam. Xilam was ranked France's leading animation studio for the 2018-2023 period in a report by the French National Centre for Cinema and Animation (CNC). Xilam is listed on Euronext Paris Compartment C - PEA - SRD long Eligibility. ISIN : FR0004034072, Symbol: XIL For more information:
Times
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Times
Axing of beloved French quiz show results in national outcry
Medical instruments, ornithology and medieval music were among the topics fired at contestants in one of France's most popular television quizzes this week. Much of the country was, however, pondering another question: why has France Télévisions, the state broadcaster, decided to remove the show from its daily slot, supposedly depriving the nation of a valuable cultural institution? A national outcry has followed word that the broadcaster is to relegate Questions Pour Un Champion, a general knowledge quiz game imported from the BBC in 1988, to two weekend slots. After a chorus of public scorn and a petition with nearly 50,000 signatures, a cross-party group of more than 20 MPs has sounded the alarm, telling the boss of France Télévisions that they were appalled at a decision that is likely to kill the contest known originally in Britain as Going for Gold. The broadcaster says it wants to save money. Though the game show still dominates viewership at its 6.10pm slot, it costs more than rival daytime quizzes, it said. For critics, though, the Parisian elite is once again axing a middle-brow show that is popular mainly with older viewers in the provinces. The row is the latest over the disappearance of venerable game shows, a genre that still commands strong loyalty in France. With its focus on culture générale, more prosaically general knowledge in English, Questions Pour Un Champion, is valued for its emphasis on learning. The MPs, from left, centre and right-wing parties, urged Delphine Ernotte, the France Télévisions chief, to reinstate the quiz. 'More than a television programme, Questions Pour Un Champion is a popular cultural and intergenerational institution which plays a large role in the French broadcasting heritage,' they said. Denis Masséglia, an MP for President Macron's Renaissance party, said: 'Millions of French people are being deprived of a familiar reference, a pleasure of play and togetherness.' The critics assume France 3, the show's channel, will soon cancel it, as the parent broadcaster did with the 50-year-old Des Chiffres et des Lettres (Figures and Letters), the last cherished quiz show that it axed amid an outcry in 2024 when it was limited to weekends. Fans called the removal of that show 'cultural suicide'. Samuel Etienne, the Questions host since 2016 and only the second since its start, has attacked the bosses' decision, calling it unfounded, since its viewership remains strong, with over 12 per cent of the 6pm national audience. 'The most demanding game show involving general culture is abandoning its public,' he said. Millions of French people organise their daily routine around it and it had never had so many young contestants, Etienne said. The TV bosses told the host that the quiz's non-French origin was a reason for cutting funds for the show, which is produced by an outside company, like most France Télévisions content, he said. Etienne said the show had survived in France after disappearing in Britain and elsewhere 'because we have a different relationship with culture'. In Le Figaro, Thomas Morales, a writer, said: 'With ideology and cynicism, France Télévisions is directly attacking the heart of its public — the invisible people of the provinces who are an easy target. 'All these honest people — pensioners, students, working people — will not cry out in anger from their distant territories. Once again, they will absorb the contempt in which the broadcasting chiefs hold them.' Éric Naulleau, a critic and broadcaster, said the end of the quiz was incomprehensible. 'This broadcast gives pride of place to general knowledge and liveliness of the mind,' he wrote.
Local France
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Local France
7 reasons to watch the Tour de France (even if you have no interest in cycling)
For the first time in five years the 2025 Tour, also known as la Grand Boucle – the large loop – will be raced exclusively in France, after previous years saw starts in Florence, Bilbao and Copenhagen. Spread out over 21 stages, the route is characterised by multiple days of relentless climbing. The last hill to take on will be Montmartre in Paris, a new addition to the Tour's traditional ending in Paris that has sparked some controversy. Since 2020, there are no more podium girls to kiss the winner of the day on the cheek. The reason for abandoning this tradition was a mix of sexism concerns about the Covid-19 pandemic. Surprisingly enough, there have been multiple cases of Tour cyclists marrying podium girls. Another change from the glory days of the Tour is no more 'drinking raids' - where cyclists would stop at cafés along the route to grab any alcohol they could find and bike off without paying. These days support staff give the cyclists drinks, which tend to more sports drinks than Champagne. But even without kisses and alcohol, there is still plenty to interest a casual viewer in the Tour. Advertisement Unless you're a die-hard fan, watching four hours of cycling a day might be an overkill. Instead, we recommend you tune in for the final 30–60 minutes of a stage, and you'll get most of the action, including incredible scenery and sharp commentary. In France, the Tour will be broadcast by France Télévisions on France 2 and France 3 and by Eurosport. 1 It's the most French thing you can watch Watching the Tour de France is like taking a crash course on France: from helicopter shots of hilltop châteaux to villages decorated in Tour de France yellow, it's an immersive ride through French culture, identity, and pride. Over three weeks, the race brings out the best of local traditions, quirky customs, and national spirit. Even if you know nothing about the sport, the Tour gives you a better sense of France than any travel guide ever could. In the lulls between cycling action, the TV commentators will bring you segments of local colour and fund facts about the French region the peloton is passing through. 2 July 14th will be celebrated on two wheels This year, organisers have moved the usual rest day forward so that France's national holiday (aka Bastille Day) can be celebrated on the road. Expect flags, fireworks, and a uniquely French atmosphere as riders race through some of the country's most iconic backdrops on its most symbolic day. 3 A return to Paris with Montmartre as final hurdle After 2024's one-off finish in Nice due to the Olympics, the 2025 Tour de France returns to its classic Paris finale on the Champs-Élysées. Advertisement However, this year, riders will also climb the Montmartre hill a total of three times before reaching the finish line, as a way of celebrating the 50th anniversary of Parisian finishes. This brings some welcome jeopardy to the final day (although not all cyclists like the idea) and was inspired by last summer's Olympic cycle races which took in Montmartre, accompanied by huge crowds. 4 The roadside atmosphere is half the fun If you ever get the chance to see the Tour de France in person, go. The crowds, costumes, and chaos are just as exciting (maybe more?) than the cyclists racing by. Fans line the route hours in advance, waving flags and cheering on every team, while the caravane publicitaire , a parade of sponsor vehicles, distributes toys and snacks. Whether you're in a packed village or at a hairpin turn in the Alps, watching the Tour live is one of the best and most characteristic experiences France has to offer. Advertisement 5 It doubles as a summer travel planner The 2025 route criss-crosses the country in a beautiful itinerary offering some of France's prettiest places, ranging from the Jura wine region to sun-drenched Provençal villages and dramatic Alpine climbs. While watching the race, you're also exploring the rich diversity of French landscapes. Every day will offer new inspiration for your next vacation in France. 6 You'll see the 'penis eraser' The Tour has a huge cast of people working behind the scenes, including Patrick Dancoisne, the effaceur de zizis (willy eraser). His job is to go ahead of the peloton and check for any obscene graffiti on the route (the classic 'cock and balls' drawings are usually popular) and erase it by turning the drawing into a cute owl, butterfly or rabbit. We're not joking about this - Patrick is actually quite famous due to this role, find out more about him here . Advertisement 7 It will teach you some very French phrases Apart from offering cultural and historical insights, listening to the French commentary will also be very good for your French, even though a chunk of what you'll hear will be jargon. To give you a head start, here are some key phrases to know: Le peloton – The main group of riders in the race. Une échappée – A breakaway; riders who go ahead of the peloton. Le maillot jaune – The yellow jersey, worn by the overall race leader. Le col – A mountain pass (where the toughest battles happen). Un grimpeur – A climber; a rider who excels on steep ascents. Une chute – A crash. Unfortunately common in the race. La caravane publicitaire – The sponsor parade that passes before the riders, tossing out free goodies.
Time of India
03-07-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Tour de France 2025: Start, end date, schedule, how to watch live online, TV with, without cable in US, UK
Tour de France 2025 begins on July 5 in Lille and ends on July 27 in Paris. Featuring 185 riders across 21 stages, fans can watch the event live on NBC, Peacock and other streaming services worldwide. Coverage is available in over 190 countries through broadcasters and online platforms. Tour de France 2025 Live stream: Watch online, with and without cable. Switzerland's Stefan Bisseger arrives for the team presentation two days ahead of the start of the Tour de France Cycling race in Lille, France, Thursday, July 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy) Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tour de France 2025 Start Date and End Date Tour de France 2025 Full Schedule July 5: Lille to Lille July 6: Lauwin-Planque to Boulogne-sur-Mer July 7: Valenciennes to Dunkirk July 8: Amiens to Rouen July 9: Caen to Caen July 10: Bayeux to Vire Normandie July 11: Saint-Malo to Guerlédan (Mûr-de-Bretagne) July 12: Saint-Méen-le-Grand to Laval July 13: Chinon to Châteauroux July 14: Ennezat to Mont-Dore July 16: Toulouse to Toulouse July 17: Auch to Hautacam July 18: Loudenvielle to Peyragudes July 19: Pau to Superbagnères July 20: Muret to Carcassonne July 22: Montpellier to Mont Ventoux July 23: Bollène to Valence July 24: Vif to Courchevel (Col de la Loze) July 25: Albertville to La Plagne July 26: Nantua to Pontarlier July 27: Mantes-la-Ville to Paris (Champs-Élysées) How to Watch Tour de France 2025 Live Online and on TV With and Without Cable US Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Peacock: $7.99/month DirecTV: $59.99 for first month, free 5-day trial Fubo: $64.99 for first month, free 7-day trial Hulu + Live TV: $82.99/month, 3-day free trial Sling Blue: First month up to half off Other Regions United Kingdom: ITV, TNT Sports / Discovery+ Canada: FloBikes Australia: SBS France: France Télévisions, Eurosport France Italy, Netherlands, Germany and Scandinavia: Max Germany: ARD Spain: RTVE Italy: RAI Ireland: TG4 Norway and Denmark: TV2 Latin America: ESPN China: CCTV and Zhibo TV Japan: J Sports How to Watch Tour de France 2025 for Free? UK: ITV4 and ITVX Ireland: TG4 France: France Télévisions Italy: RAI Spain: RTVE Germany: ARD Australia: SBS Portugal: RTP What's New in Tour de France 2025? FAQs is round the corner. The 112th edition of the Tour de France kicks off on Saturday, July 5, 2025, from Lille and concludes on Sunday, July 27, in Paris. This year's race spans 3,339 kilometers across 21 stages. With 185 riders competing for the Coupe de Omnisports, the world will be watching live across multiple platforms and race begins in Lille, France, on July 5 and finishes on the Champs-Élysées in Paris on July 27. Riders will cross different cities each day over the three-week Tour de France 2025 will be broadcast in 190 countries on 100 channels, with 60 offering live holds exclusive broadcast rights. Viewers can also stream on Sports can be watched via or the NBC Sports app with provider login, including DirecTV, Hulu + Live TV, Verizon, Fubo, and in several countries can watch the Tour de France for free via public broadcasters:This year's Tour marks the last edition broadcast free-to-air in the UK on ITV. Starting in 2026, TNT Sports and Discovery+ will take over exclusive UK rights. The ongoing rivalry between Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard will also be a major highlight, with both having shared the last five yellow viewers can watch on NBC and stream online on Peacock, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, Sling, or countries like the UK, France, Germany, and Australia offer free public broadcasts on channels like ITV, ARD, SBS, and France Télévisions.
France 24
01-07-2025
- Politics
- France 24
Sinaloa cartel's new alliance with rival could transform global drug trade
French MPs have rejected a bill that aims to bring France 's public services under one holding company. The text was rejected in the National Assembly on Monday before it could even be debated. It will now head to the Senate for a review. L'Humanité, the Communist paper, says: "Dati persists, public services resist." That headline is in reference to French Culture Minister – and Paris mayor hopeful – Rachida Dati, who spearheaded the controversial bill. Libération says the MPs' outright rejection of the text is a "slap in the face" for Dati, noting that she was abandoned in the vote by Macron's ruling coalition. In its editorial, Libération says Dati failed in her fourth attempt at passing the deeply controversial bill. It accuses her of being dogmatic in her bid to seek revenge on the journalists who have investigated her many corruption scandals. As Le Monde explains, the proposal seeks to merge France's three major public broadcasting companies: France Télévisions, Radio France and INA, the national archives. This merger has been likened to a French-style BBC. Those opposed to the move say it would hamper editorial independence and offer fewer resources at a time when maintaining editorial independence is crucial. Le Monde notes that this reform comes at a time when French public services are in relatively good health: Radio France's podcasts are among the most listened to and France Télévisions is holding strong against competition. This doesn't detract, however, from the challenges the sector faces: ageing audiences and fierce competition from on-demand television. In other news: The New York Times looks at how tough times for the Mexican Sinaloa dug cartel could push them to make dangerous alliances. The Sinaloa cartel is the world's most feared fentanyl cartel. It is reeling from internal fighting and a crackdown by Mexico and the USA. The cartel has for years run a global empire through alliances with affiliates around the world. But now, amid troubled times, a faction of the group have allied with a powerful adversary: the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. This alliance could turn the latter in to the world's biggest drug trafficker and redraw alliances and power structures around the world. As one expert puts it, it's as if the East Coast of the US seceded during the Cold War and reached out to the Soviet Union. The British daily The Guardian has a haunting photo report looking at the horrific sexual violence inflicted against Tigray woman in Ethiopia. Uruguayan photographer Ximena Borrazas specialises in documenting humanitarian conflict. During the 2020 war, tens of thousands of Tigrayan women were gang-raped by Ethiopian and Eritrean soldiers. As Borrazas reports, some had foreign objects forcibly injected into their uterus – metal screws and even letters written by soldiers covered in plastic. These letters expressed a desire to render the women infertile so as to end the Tigrayan population. Some expressed a desire to seek revenge for Tigray's border war in the 1990s. Other women were subjected to acid attacks and still suffer today. The Guardian notes that nearly 90 percent of victims have not received any medical or psychological help. Justice for them seems an even more distant prospect. Finally, an amateur tennis player will face world n° 2 Carlos Alcaraz in the second round of Wimbledon. Britain's Oliver Tarvet, who is ranked 733rd in the world, is the lowest-ranked player in the entire singles draw. His three-set first round win over a Swiss opponent earned him nearly £100,000. But his amateur status and the fact that he's a US college student mean he can only received £10,000 in profit this year because of the national collegiate athlete rules. Nonetheless, he has a mammoth task ahead of him: his second-round match will be against Alcaraz on Wednesday!
