Vivendi Universal Entertainment

Vivendi Universal Entertainment LLLP (VUE) was an American group, an 86% subsidiary of the French conglomerate Vivendi Universal, bringing together Vivendi Universal's film (Universal Pictures), television (USA Network, Sci-Fi, etc.), and theme park businesses, making it the world's second-largest communications and media company.^[1][2]

Vivendi Universal Entertainment

Company type	Private
Industry	Media Entertainment
Founded	2000; 25 years ago (2000)
Defunct	2011; 14 years ago (2011)
Fate	Merged with NBC in 2004
Headquarters	100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California , United States
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Barry Diller (COO)
Products	Amusement parks Films Music Television shows Video games Web portals
Brands	Universal Beijing Universal Animation Studios Universal Content Productions Universal International Studios Universal Orlando Universal Pictures Universal Pictures Home Entertainment Universal Studios Hollywood Universal Studios Japan Universal Studios Singapore Universal Television
Services	Broadcasting Licensing Publishing Television
Revenue	US$5.02 billion (2003)
Number of employees	14,187 (2003)
Parent	Vivendi Universal (86%) IAC Inc. (5.44%) Barry Diller (5.44%)
Divisions	Universal Pictures Universal Parks & Resorts USA Network Canal+ Group

Created in 2000 following the merger of Vivendi and Seagram, VUE was one of the divisions of Vivendi Universal, a global group active in many areas such as music with Universal Music Group, film with Universal Pictures, telecommunications with Cegetel and SFR, and publishing with Vivendi Universal Publishing (literature, textbooks, press, video games), now Editis.^[3]

In 2002, with the acquisition of USA Networks, Vivendi Universal Entertainment's headquarters moved from Paris to 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California.^[2]

Vivendi Universal Entertainment (VUE) became NBCUniversal when Vivendi Universal sold 80% of its shares in the group to the now defunct General Electric (GE). Vivendi Universal retained 20% of NBCUniversal until 2011, when Comcast acquired 51% of the group. VUE was officially dissolved on November 14, 2011.^[4]

History

2000: merger of Vivendi and Seagram

Vivendi Universal Entertainment is the result of the 2000 merger of Seagram's Universal activities (excluding music) and the Canal+ Group, which includes the Canal+ channel, Canalsatellite, and StudioCanal, contributed by Vivendi.

In 2002, Vivendi Universal acquired the entertainment activities of the American group InterActiveCorp (namely the USA Network and the Sci-Fi channel) and integrated them into Vivendi Universal Entertainment and a new holding company named “Vivendi Universal Entertainment LLLP” domiciled in the United States.^[3]

On May 30, 2003, Vivendi Universal Entertainment sold Spencer Gifts, a chain of gift and novelty stores located in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, to American investment funds Gordon Brothers Group and Palladin Capital Group for approximately $100 million.^[4]

2004: sold by Vivendi Universal, VUE becomes NBCUniversal

In May 2004, Vivendi Universal sold Vivendi Universal Entertainment (except for Canal+) to General Electric, owner of the NBC broadcasting group, which integrated it into the new NBCUniversal media group in exchange for a 20% stake. Vivendi Universal retained Universal Music Group.^[5]

Sale of remaining residual interest (2011)

Vivendi Universal's stake was finally sold to General Electric in two stages at the end of 2010 and beginning of 2011. This group then sold 51% of NBCUniversal to Comcast, which integrated its own television channels into the company.^[6]

Organization

In 2004, Vivendi Universal Entertainment consisted of:

• Universal Pictures Group
  • Universal Studios
  • Focus Features
  • United International Pictures
  • Universal Studios Home Video
• Universal Television Group
• Universal Parks & Resorts
• Canal+ Group (except the channel)

Only the Canal+ channel is staying out of the merger, since a rule says that no industrial group can own more than 49% of the capital of a French TV channel.