CANALWEB (1998-2001)

UniversCity TV, with its experience gained in the digital and interactive media, joined the creation of Canalweb, the first European operator of televison on Internet. 

In 1995, the first audio and video « streaming » software programs appeared on the Web. Since then, many millions of internauts have downloaded these simple tools known as « players » - via free distribution on the Web - in order to become Internet spectators, or « NetViewers ».

This technological innovation in audiovisual program distribution is turning the entire industry upside down : production, distribution, sales, and also the manner in which programs are viewed, are directly affected by this monumental transformation.

The most striking aspect of this Audiovisual Revolution is perfectly resumed by the term « NarrowCast ». Television need no longer be a mass media, touching millions of viewers with the same content at the same moment. Programs may now be diffused to a precise and targeted micro-audience. This will be the era of hyper- thematic, specialized and community-oriented TV. The parallel between NarrowCast and the written press is to be noted - just as we witnessed the explosion of the special-interest press industry and the appearance of thousands of niche titles on the market, in the next few months we will see the parallel explosion of special-interest TV. Highly themed and specialized Channels – or NarrowCast – will develop alongside mainstream channels – or Broadcast – just as special-interest magazines have found their place alongside the mainstream press.

Internet changes the parameters of traditional Distribution and Viewing.
TV Programs accessed via Internet are not viewed in the same manner as classic programs : 

• « On Demand » Viewing

Traditional television operators have striven to achieve « Video on Demand » for over 20 years. Internet now allows television to be transformed from a constant and uni-directional flow, to a multi-content, rich and readily available stock, always accessible « On Demand ». Each and every program of an Internet TV channel enriches and adds to the overall channel content and position. This is a far cry from the business model of traditional broadcast channels.

• Global Access

Traditional television’s reach is limited to geographical boundaries. Internet TV allows access to multiple, smaller, specialized niches. These niche markets would otherwise be too small to be accessed individually and locally, although the global sum of these common interest yet geographically divided audiences is substantial.

• Interactivity

Programs may be complemented with classic web functions : chat, e-mail, e-commerce, associated information, search engines, etc. Each of these tools helps build loyalty and provide service to channel subscribers.

• A Hyper-Thematic and Multilingual Catalogue

All CanalWeb programs are archived, thus creating an extensive catalogue of audiovisual content. The catalogue today contains 60 programs, organized by channel theme.
This hyper-thematic catalogue will also be multilingual. CanalWeb’s international deployment deems necessary the production of programs in principal European languages : (English, German, Spanish, French, Italian…). Taking account of national specifications, content will not be centrally produced and translated, but localized in order to adapt to the local audience.
Contrary to traditional television catalogues, 80% of CanalWeb’s content may be rediffused over a period of several years. The remaining content will have a lower re-distribution potential, as it is related to specific events. 

CanalWeb’s History

• Sept 1997     Jacques Rosselin creates the CanalWeb business plan and takes on the challenge to raise 10 million francs of investment funds. CanalWeb, the newsletter, is published : information about Television and Internet convergence.
• July 1998    CanalWeb is created with 4 partner investors : Pierre Bergé, Oléron Participations (Jean-Francis Bretelle, Capital Risk), CEFID (Dominique Louis, Business Angel) and Groupe Sud-Ouest (via it’s subsidiary Atlantel Multimédia – Groupe Sud-Ouest is the second largest regional press group in France).
• Sept 1998     In history’s footsteps : CanalWeb moves to 15 rue Cognacq-Jay, Paris, into the building where French National Television all began back in the 50’s. CanalWeb launches operations with 10 million Francs and 15 employees.
• Oct 1998    CanalWeb delivers their first corporate services, 3 days of live webcasts :
• -    Congrès Multimédiaville (MultimediaCity Congress)
• -    Sommet Franco-Africain (France-Africa Summit)
• -    Trophées de la Création d’Entreprise (New Business Awards - with the partnership of the French investment magazine “le Revenu”)
• Jan 1999    CanalWeb takes the air with their first four live shows.
  Feb 1999    CanalWeb webcasts live the Société Générale and Paribas press conference announcing their merger project.
• March 1999     Award-winning CanalWeb : Clic d’Or (the Golden Click) « Media Site of the Year ». Galileo, the high-presence Capital Risk Investment Fund, joins the Shareholders of CanalWeb. 3000 internauts are already clicking-in each day to CanalWeb programs.
• April 1999    Creation of the first consumer channel with the Fnac (the leading French retailer of cultural products), and installation of studios in five stores.
• June 1999    Creation of TVBourse.net, a subsidiary of CanalWeb dedicated exclusively to financial information, in partnership with the Paris Stock Exchange (Paris Bourse SA).
• July 1999     Launch of LeMondeTV and LibéTV. Distribution agreements with LibertySurf (UK),  Freesbee (France) and Spray (Sweden).
• Oct 99     Creation of the largest European webcast studio facility, within a space of over 1,500 m².
• Nov 99    CanalWeb sponsor’s the leading European industry tradeshow, NarrowCast 99, and is honored by the Broadcast (French Professional Audiovisual trade magazine) Award for Best Television Site.
• Dec 99    Jacques Rosselin and CanalWeb receive the Net 20 Trophy for the «Most Brilliant Idea » (awarded by « Stratégies » and « Le Journal du Net »).
• Jan 2000    EuropeanStreaming, the European Webcasters Consortium (Holland, Sweden, Belgium, Italy, Switzerland etc.), is launched at the initiative of CanalWeb.

the founders team

Jacques ROSSELIN, CEO
Jean-Francis BRETELLE, President du Conseil de Surveillance
Beatrice Lecacheux, Business
Denis FORTIER, International
Romain GIRES, Technology
Philippe VALACHS, Finances
Patrick VALLEE, Production
Christian VAN DER BORGHT, Broadband, Prospective