Canal+ names originals chief

French pay TV operator Canal+ has named Olivier Bibas as its new director of original content.

Bibas, who will join the pay TV operator on February 14, will be responsible for French fiction programming and international co-productions. He will report to Gérald-Brice Viret, head of broadcasting and programming at Canal+ France.

Bibas replaced Fabrice de la Patellière, who has served as director of fiction at Canal+ since 2002, and who is now to take a production role at Canal+’s production arm Studiocanal under Anna Marsh, tasked with developing French series and international growth across TV and platforms.

Bibas, who began his career at Canal+ in 1995, has been executive producer and chief executive at Atlantique Productions, now a subsidiary of Mediawan, since 2011, where he oversaw production of series including The Eddy, Jour Polaire, Hierro, Eden, Borgia, Le Transporteur and, most recently, Django for Canal+ and Sky Studios.

De la Patellière has been responsible for shows including Engrenages, Les Revenants, Braquo, Validé and Paris Police 1900 during his time at Canal+.

“I’m delighted that Olivier Bibas is joining us at Canal+ Group. He vision, renowned expertise and talent will of immense value in enabling us to offer major new series capable of resonating globally. In the name of the group I wish him the greatest success in this position,” said Viret.