Discovery takes fifth of Televista

US group Discovery Networks International (DNI) has taken a 20% holding in independent French media group Televista. Run by Gaspard de Chavagnac, the company creates pay-TV channels specialised for women's lifestyle content and currently owns women's channel cabsat and IPTV channel Vivolta. Televista is also developing a new HD DTT project called VIA, the plans for which will be presented to the regulator CSA next week. Its concept is based on French lifestyle, and the channel will be operated by Vivolta with funds coming from investment companies such as Aplus Finance, Altice and Audacia. In this context, the arrival of DNI as minority shareholder is presented as a strategic partnership. Discovery will help Televista to develop its channel portfolio and open its lifestyle content library. The two groups had already sealed a content deal earlier this year. French programmes produced by the VIA channel, if it comes to fruition, will be integrated into Discovery’s international catalogue of lifestyle programming and broadcast on TLC and Real Time channels internationally. In September 2010, Discovery launched on the Italian FTA market channel Real Time, which has become the 8th most watched channel by women in the 20-49 demographic. This partnership with a leading international group will, no doubt,  give more weight and opportunities to Televista ahead of its CSA hearing next week to get a DTT frequency.