Zodiak Television And Kanakna Join Forces

Zodiak Television and the successful Benelux production company Kanakna are to join forces, it has been announced. As they become the Group’s largest shareholders, the founders, owners and management team of Kanakna will be leading the Zodiak Television Group’s strategy in Continental Europe.
Zodiak Television will acquire 100 % of the shares in Kanakna, the Belgian and Dutch group of production companies, and through that open up access to the highly creative and developing markets of Benelux and other large markets in continental Europe. Through this strategic structural deal, Kanakna will add competence and creativity to the Group and will have an important impact on future growth and profitability.
Kanakna has more than 15 years of experience in the Benelux and international television production environment. In addition, the group has had great success over the last couple of years in developing and producing formats for the international arena and has special skills and focus in international co- and line production for many channels and groups of channels.
“This substantial deal is a great addition to the current strategy, creativity and profitability of Zodiak. I am pleased to see Kanakna as part of the Zodiak Television Group and especially welcome the people behind Kanakna as important drivers for the Group’s new continental strategy and the overall development of the Group”, said Patrick Svensk, President and CEO of Zodiak Television.
“I am very impressed with the growth of Kanakna during the last five years and, since we have been working together on several projects the last couple of years, I know that we fit extremely well together."
Kanakna has over the last five years developed and/or produced successful shows such as the famous 'Hel leve zoals het is' for VRT and 'Peking Express' for broadcasters in Belgium, Holland, Germany, Scandinavia and France. Kanakna has been in the business for almost 15 years and has become one of the strongest players in the region with long term relationships with channels such as VRTG, VT4, VTM; Net 5, RTL and M6.
“As a true entrepreneur I am delighted to join forces with Zodiak so that we can jointly build the Group into one to the greatest television groups in the world,” said Ludo Poppe, founder, main shareholder and CEO of Kanakna and continues: “We have been talking to each other for three years and the timing is perfect. We have an excellent fit, both from a content and a strategic point of view. I am very much looking forward to building the Group together with Patrick Svensk and the rest of our joint management team and directors."
(DS)