The sale of Canal Plus Technologies is part of Vivendi Universal’s disposal of assets program announced on August 19.
Thomson Multimedia was already a shareholder of Canal Plus Technologies, together with Canal Plus Group, Sun Microsystems, Sony and Sogecable. Canal Plus Technologies will continue to provide technology and services to Canal Plus Group and its digital TV operators, as well as to all the third-party operators with whom it is in business.
Earlier this year Canal Plus technologies accused rival NDS of cracking its pay-tv encryption system and posting details on the Internet. The company claimed the hacking of its encryption cost it around £630 million in lost revenues.
Meanwhile reports have also been speculating that Vivendi is preparing to sell its Telepiu Italian pay-tv business to News Corporation for around £500 million.
