Canal+ rebrands Lat Am channels distributor

Alterna’TV, the channel distribution business for set up by Eutelsat Americas to distribute Latin American channels overseas, has changed its name to Thema America.

The name change comes nine months after the outfit was acquired by French pay TV outfit Canal+ via its Thema channel distribution subsidiary.

Thema has been headed by Patrick Rivet, Thema TV’s former senior VP of distribution, since August. The outfit was previously headed by Thema founder François Thiellet for a short period.

Thema America distributes Latin American channels to over six million subscribers, mostly in North Amercia.

Canal+ has long had an ambition to grow its distribution business in North America, where Thema set up a local office in 2013.

Canal+ acquired full control of Thema in June from Eutelsat, the Paris-based satellite operator.