Created in 2013, VOD Factory appears as the specialist in video on demand in France. Aurélien Clerc, its managing director, explains to us how the company, a member of La French Touch, has succeeded in carving out a place alongside the giants of the sector.

Back in 2013. Vivendi, still owner of SFR, wants to sell the telephone operator and outsource part of its activities. Julien Vin-Ramarony and Aurélien Clerc, then employees of the company, seize this opportunity and propose to resume the video activity at the operator's request: VOD Factory is born. " Julien and I have created a structure. SFR took 40% of the company's capital shares and signed a long contract. We have operated SFR's VOD for over 5 years. », Explains Aurélien Clerc, Managing Director of VOD Factory. Quickly, the company signed with large clients, such as FNAC or Cdiscount, and posted a turnover of over 20 million euros.

But at the end of 2018, a grain of sand stopped the machine. SFR decides not to continue its collaboration with VOD Factory. As in 2013, the two partners are seizing this opportunity. “At the beginning of 2019, we bought the shares held by SFR and pivoted our model around 2 activities, one in BtoC, the other in BtoB,” says the manager.

"There is a space next to the large generalist platforms for community offers"

The first of these activities is the publishing of thematic video-on-demand services. " We are convinced that there is a space next to large generalist platforms like Disney + or Netflix for community offers, as has existed in the press or on TV for decades. Provided that the community is engaged, that there is already existing premium content and that this target is a real community feeling, poorly addressed by the general media. He adds. Today, VOD Factory already offers 3 thematic platforms. One specializing in horror / thrill genre cinema "Shadowz", a second specializing in LGBT + fiction "QueerScreen" and "Spicee", entirely dedicated to documentaries.
But the company does not intend to stop there and has already planned to launch platforms on the themes of metal, competitive sailing or even theater. " For our projects, we partner with specialists from the communities we want to address. People who know audience hubs, who know influencers, and find the best people to speak to these communities. », Explains Aurélien Clerc.

Beyond this publisher activity, VOD Factory has developed a SaaS * platform to allow its customers to create their VOD platform. “We make our solution available to anyone who wants to create their own platform. “From sport to festivals, the field of prospects is wide. “All the more so as we have lowered the barriers to entry so that the possibility of self-distribution and monetization of their own content is as easy as possible on apps or websites,” says the manager.

Connect editor and operator

But what makes VOD Factory unique is undoubtedly its ability to provide its customers with the benefit of its expertise and its network. As a content publisher, the company can negotiate broadcasting rights for films, series and documentaries for its clients. She can also support them on the production side or digital marketing. However, we still need to make this content accessible to as many people as possible. " It is complicated for an operator to seek community offers, as relevant and strong as they are on their targets. And conversely, it is just as complicated for small publishers to find a place with these large operators. », Indicates Aurélien Clerc. This is why the company has made agreements with Orange, Amazon and other operators. " We accelerate the integration of publishers ". What to convince all those who still hesitated to launch out in the VOD. " We have several incoming calls a week from people who want to start their own Netflix. Our models mean that we can be profitable to a few thousand subscribers ».

From now on, this representative of La French Touch wishes to convince new operators to offer his thematic platforms as well as that of these customers. " We are even starting to talk to French-speaking players internationally. He concludes.

* SaaS (Software as a Service): software offered by a third party and hosted in the Cloud.