AlloCiné

AlloCiné is a French entertainment and film-information brand that grew from a telephone service for cinema schedules into one of France’s best-known online destinations for moviegoing and audiovisual discovery. Jean-David Blanc developed the original concept in 1988, and the service was formally launched in 1993 with Patrick Holzman joining the project. Its early telephone offering became recognizable through an easy-to-remember number and free access relative to competing information services. The company subsequently expanded through Minitel, the web and mobile formats, progressively turning a practical showtime service into a broad database and editorial platform. The current AlloCiné proposition combines structured reference data with editorial and community features. The website covers films distributed in France, television series, cast and crew, synopses, release dates, trailers, professional reviews, user ratings, cinema schedules and access to online ticket purchases. It also provides information connected with DVD, Blu-ray and video-on-demand releases. The combination of factual cataloguing, entertainment journalism and transaction-oriented cinema information has often led to comparisons with IMDb, although AlloCiné is particularly oriented toward the French market and French release ecosystem. AlloCiné has repeatedly extended its content footprint beyond the database. It introduced television coverage in 2005, produced web and television programs through AlloCiné Productions, operated specialist video formats and briefly ran a dedicated television channel. Programs such as Faux Raccord, FanZone, Merci Qui?, Dedans AlloCiné and other magazine, interview and explanatory formats helped the brand function as a publisher and audiovisual producer as well as a database. The brand also developed community participation through user reviews, blogs, forums and the Club 300 contributor community, although its public forums were closed in 2020. The business experienced several ownership changes. It was acquired by Canal+ and subsequently integrated into Vivendi Universal’s digital activities before becoming independent again during a 2003 restructuring. Tiger Global acquired a majority stake in 2007. In 2013, Fimalac acquired 98 percent of the company for €66.9 million and placed it within Webedia, its digital-media subsidiary. AlloCiné S.A. was dissolved in 2014 and its operations were absorbed by Webedia. The brand remains an active Webedia property focused on French-language entertainment information, film discovery and cinema-going services.

AlloCiné originated with Jean-David Blanc’s 1988 concept for an automated telephone service giving Paris audiences cinema schedules. The AlloCiné name was registered in October of that year, and Patrick Holzman later joined the project. The service was formally launched in June 1993 during the Fête du Cinéma. Its memorable telephone number and absence of additional call charges helped it stand out from competing information services. Ticket reservations were added in 1994, while a Minitel version followed in 1995 and remained available until shortly before Minitel’s disappearance. The company moved decisively toward digital distribution in the second half of the 1990s. Its website launched in 1997, accompanied by a WAP mobile service. AlloCiné then broadened its commercial and editorial scope, including the acquisition of film-merchandise and video retailer Cinestore.com in 2000. It also experimented with television, launching Allociné Télévision on CanalSatellite in September 2000. In the early 2000s, the television activity was combined with Ciné Info under the Allo Ciné Info name, while the internet business was incorporated into Vivendi Universal’s Canal+ web activities. The company later became independent again during Vivendi’s 2003 restructuring. During the 2000s, AlloCiné became a major French cinema portal. Television-series coverage was added in 2005, and international versions were attempted in the United Kingdom and Germany. The company upgraded its online video technology, acquired or invested in related businesses, and expanded its database, ticketing and advertising activities. In 2007, Tiger Global acquired a majority stake and Claude Esclatine became chief executive. AlloCiné subsequently acquired Filmstarts.de in Germany and a stake in French cinema advertising agency Talent Group, while also purchasing the Turkish website Beyazperde.com. The company expanded into original audiovisual production during the 2010s. AlloCiné Productions created programs for television channels, cinema operators and online distribution, including Faux Raccord, FanZone, Merci Qui?, Dedans AlloCiné and several magazine and interview formats. AlloCiné TV launched in September 2011 as a 24-hour advertising-supported channel distributed through cable and satellite operators. It withdrew its application for a French digital-terrestrial television licence in January 2012 and stopped broadcasting in April 2012, but the production subsidiary continued creating content. In July 2013, Fimalac purchased 98 percent of AlloCiné for €66.9 million and moved the company into the Webedia organization. The transition was accompanied by substantial employee departures and layoffs, followed by labour disputes involving former employees. In 2014, AlloCiné S.A. was dissolved and absorbed into Webedia. The brand continued to develop digital partnerships, including a 2014 integration with Spotify for soundtrack listening and a 2015 role in the CNC’s VOD-search initiative. Its forums, once a major community feature, were permanently closed in 2020. AlloCiné remains an active French-language entertainment-information brand under Webedia, centered on film and television databases, editorial video, reviews, schedules and ticketing.

1. 2020Public forums closed

   AlloCiné permanently discontinued its user forums.

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2. 2014Corporate absorption into Webedia

   AlloCiné S.A. was dissolved and its activities were transferred fully to Webedia.

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3. 2013Fimalac acquisition

   Fimalac acquired 98 percent of AlloCiné and brought it into the Webedia group.

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4. 2012AlloCiné TV discontinued

   The dedicated channel stopped broadcasting on 15 April after less than a year.

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5. 2011AlloCiné TV and AlloCiné Productions

   The company launched a dedicated television channel and established a production subsidiary for original audiovisual programming.

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6. 2007Tiger Global majority acquisition

   Tiger Global acquired a majority stake and appointed Claude Esclatine as chief executive.

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7. 2005Television-series database expansion

   The information portal began covering television series in addition to films.

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8. 2000Television and retail expansion

   AlloCiné acquired Cinestore.com and launched Allociné Télévision on CanalSatellite.

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9. 1997Website launch

   The allocine.fr website and a WAP mobile version extended the service beyond telephone and Minitel.

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10. 1993Formal service launch

    AlloCiné officially launched as a telephone cinema-information service during the Fête du Cinéma.

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11. 1988AlloCiné concept and trademark registration

    Jean-David Blanc developed the automated cinema-information concept, and the AlloCiné name was registered in October.

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A mass-market French film and audiovisual-information platform combining a structured database, editorial criticism, community participation, video content and practical cinema-discovery services.

• AlloCiné film databaseFilm information1993

  The core AlloCiné service catalogues films distributed in France and connects structured information with editorial material. Entries can include synopses, release dates, cast and crew, trailers, professional reviews, user ratings and links to cinema schedules or ticketing. The database supports both casual movie discovery and practical decisions about what and where to watch.

• Television-series databaseTelevision information2005

  Introduced in 2005, the television section extended AlloCiné’s cataloguing and editorial model to series and television programming. It provides program-level information and connects audiovisual discovery with reviews, video material and audience discussion.

• Cinema listings and ticketingCinema services1994

  AlloCiné links film pages to cinema schedules, venue information and online ticket-purchase access. This transactional layer distinguishes the brand from a purely archival database by helping users move from discovering a film to arranging a cinema visit. Availability depends on participating venues and location.

• AlloCiné editorial videoDigital video1997

  The brand publishes trailers, interviews, reviews, explainers, franchise coverage and entertainment programs. Its video output has included recurring formats such as Faux Raccord, FanZone, Top 5, Ma scène préférée and festival coverage, distributed through the website and external media partners.

• AlloCiné TVTelevision channel2011

  AlloCiné TV was a dedicated, advertising-supported channel launched in 2011 through cable and satellite distributors. It aired cinema news, documentaries, magazines and films, with programming produced by AlloCiné Productions. The channel ceased broadcasting in April 2012.

• AlloCiné ProductionsAudiovisual production2011

  Created in 2011, AlloCiné Productions produced programs for television channels, cinema operators and online platforms. Its output included magazine formats, interviews, entertainment series and branded content. It continued after the closure of AlloCiné TV, although the available reference material indicates that it had stopped producing new content by 2016.

• 2014Spotify soundtrack integration

  France

  AlloCiné partnered with Spotify to allow users to stream film soundtracks from movie-information pages.

  Outcome. Connected film discovery with music streaming.

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• 2009User-contributed database platform

  France

  AlloCiné opened parts of its editorial and database system to public contributions, initially for television series and later for films. Users could create pages and enrich existing entries.

  Outcome. Increased community involvement in database development.

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• 2008Club 300

  France

  AlloCiné developed Club 300 as a contributor community for loyal users and external bloggers. Members could receive invitations to advance screenings and exclusive events, strengthening the platform’s relationship with influential film fans.

  Outcome. Expanded community participation and content contribution.

  Source

• 2020Closure of public forumsStrategy

  AlloCiné had operated user forums and other community features for many years.

  What changed. The company permanently closed the public forums in October 2020.

  Aftermath. The decision reduced the platform’s community infrastructure while leaving its database and editorial services as its primary public-facing functions.

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• 2015Participation in the CNC VOD-search engineStrategy

  France’s CNC selected a small group of established audiovisual platforms to support a search service for VOD offers.

  What changed. AlloCiné joined SensCritique, Première and Télérama as one of four partner platforms.

  Aftermath. The partnership broadened AlloCiné’s role from cinema information toward discovery of legally available video-on-demand offerings.

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• 2013Fimalac acquisition and Webedia integrationM&A

  A change in ownership followed Tiger Global’s period as majority shareholder and Fimalac’s expansion of its digital-media activities.

  What changed. Fimalac acquired 98 percent of AlloCiné for €66.9 million and affiliated the business with Webedia.

  Aftermath. AlloCiné S.A. was dissolved in 2014 and the business was absorbed into Webedia. The transition also led to substantial staff departures and labour litigation by former employees.

  Purchase price for 98 percent stake. €66.9 million (July 2013)

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• 2011Launch of AlloCiné TVProduct launch

  AlloCiné sought to extend its cinema-information brand into a continuous television service focused on films and their creators.

  What changed. It launched an advertising-supported cable and satellite channel on 5 September 2011, with programming produced by AlloCiné Productions.

  Aftermath. The channel withdrew its application for a digital-terrestrial licence in January 2012 and stopped broadcasting on 15 April 2012.

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• 2020AlloCiné closes its user forums

  The brand permanently shut its public user forums, ending a long-running community feature.

  Other
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• 2015AlloCiné joins CNC VOD-search initiative

  AlloCiné was selected by France’s CNC as one of four partner platforms for the launch of a VOD-offer search engine.

  Other
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• 2014AlloCiné operations are absorbed by Webedia

  AlloCiné S.A. was dissolved and its operations were fully integrated into Webedia.

  M&A
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• 2013Fimalac acquires 98 percent of AlloCiné

  Fimalac acquired a controlling 98 percent stake and associated AlloCiné with Webedia.

  M&A
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• 2012AlloCiné TV ceases broadcasting

  The dedicated television channel was discontinued less than a year after launch.

  Other
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• 2011AlloCiné launches AlloCiné TV

  The brand introduced a dedicated cinema-focused cable and satellite television channel.

  Product launch
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• 2007Tiger Global acquires a majority stake

  The American investment fund became the majority owner of AlloCiné, with Claude Esclatine appointed chief executive.

  M&ALeadership change
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• 2005AlloCiné expands into television coverage

  The database and editorial service broadened beyond films to include television series.

  Product generation
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• 1997AlloCiné launches its website

  The brand expanded onto the web with allocine.fr, alongside a WAP mobile version.

  Product launch
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• 1993AlloCiné formally launches as a cinema-information service

  The telephone-based cinema-information concept developed by Jean-David Blanc was formally launched during the Fête du Cinéma.

  Other
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1. AlloCiné
2. AlloCiné official website