Groupe Bayard
Groupe Bayard is a French Catholic-founded multi-format media group producing press, books, audio, audiovisual, digital apps and events for children, seniors and religious communities, reaching a claimed 36 million readers and 5 million subscribers across ~50 countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1873
- HeadquartersMontrouge, France
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Groupe Bayard does
Groupe Bayard is a French multi-format media group founded in 1873 as a Catholic publisher and headquartered in Malakoff, France. The Group creates and distributes content across press, book publishing, audio, audiovisual, digital applications, and events, serving three primary audience clusters across the human life cycle: children and youth (ages 0-18) through brands such as Bayard Jeunesse, Milan Presse, BD Kids and the Bayam app; adults 45+ and seniors through Notre Temps and the broader silver-economy portfolio; and Catholic/religious communities through La Croix (daily since 1883), Le Pèlerin, Prions en Église and religious book imprints. It operates 120 press titles (70 in France), a catalogue of ~5,500 books with 800+ new titles annually, 200+ websites, ~100 apps and 50 blogs, reaching a claimed 36 million readers worldwide with 5 million subscribers. The workforce comprises ~1,400 employees in France and 550 internationally, plus nearly 700 freelance journalists and 5,000+ authors.
The business model is diversified across recurring subscription and newsstand press revenue, one-time book sales, advertising via the Bayard Média Développement subsidiary, audio/podcast revenue, audiovisual production and character-IP licensing (Bayard Animation: Petit Ours Brun, SamSam, Tom-Tom et Nana, Zouk), international rights and co-publishing (editions in ~50 countries and 50+ languages via partners including Chronicle Books, Planeta, Panini, Shogakukan and the Bayard Bridge China JV), and event/travel services. Go-to-market blends direct field sales across France, e-commerce storefronts, digital-first acquisition (newsletters, podcasts with 20M+ cumulative listens), subscription enrollment, and B2B media consulting for advertisers targeting children, parents and the 45+ demographic. Pricing is not publicly disclosed.
Ownership is distinctive: the Congrégation des Augustins de l'Assomption holds 93.7% of share capital, and the company operates as a Société Anonyme with a Directoire (led by President François Morinière and Managing Director Dominique Greiner) and a Conseil de Surveillance chaired by Hubert Chicou. Share capital is stated at €16,500,000. The Group is privately held and not publicly disclosing consolidated revenue in the available source material.
Groupe Bayard firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Groupe Bayard
- Legal name
- Bayard
- Website
- https://groupebayard.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1873
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- Groupe Bayard is a French Catholic-founded multi-format media group producing press, books, audio, audiovisual, digital apps and events for children, seniors and religious communities, reaching a claimed 36 million readers and 5 million subscribers across ~50 countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Groupe Bayard industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Publishing
- NAICS
- Book Publishers (513130), Periodical Publishers (51312), Newspaper Publishers (51311), Book Publishers (51313)
- SIC
- Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731), Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721), Newspapers: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2711)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Children’s Subscription & Book Club Publishing (MPAJAFAO)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Children’s Licensed & Media Tie-In Publishing (MPAJAFAK), Genre & Category Publishing (Romance, Mystery/Thriller, Sci‑Fi/Fantasy, etc.) (MPAJAAAB), Audiobook Self-Publishing & Production Services (Narration, Studio, ACX-style) (MPAJAJAJ), Religious Children’s Publishing (Faith-Based Kids & YA) (MPAJAHAJ)
Keywords
Where Groupe Bayard is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Montrouge
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices10 records
Markets served
Groupe Bayard business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Press Subscriptions and Newsstand Sales: Bayard generates recurring revenue through print and digital magazine subscriptions (5 million subscribers globally) and newsstand sales across its 120 press titles (70 in France). Revenue includes La Croix daily and weekly, Le Pèlerin, Prions en Église, Notre Temps, Bayard Jeunesse, and Milan Presse titles.
- Book Publishing: Revenue from publishing over 800 new books annually across Bayard Éditions, Bayard Éditions Jeunesse, Éditions Milan, Éditions Tourbillon, and Éditions CRER-Bayard, with a catalogue of 5,500 books. Includes children's books, comics (BD KIDS, Bande d'ados), graphic novels, religious texts, and general non-fiction.
- Advertising and Media Services: Bayard Média Développement, the Group's advertising subsidiary for over 10 years, commercializes advertising inventory across Bayard's digital and print properties. Includes programmatic advertising, targeted campaigns, data-addressed communication, and B2B media consulting services for brands targeting children, parents, and the 45+ demographic.
- Audio and Podcast Revenue: Bayard Audio generates revenue through audio book publishing (over 400 references) and podcast content across youth and religious platforms, including original productions such as La grande histoire de Pomme d'Api and Curieux de sciences.
- Audiovisual Production and Licensing: Bayard Animation produces audiovisual series (Petit Ours Brun, SamSam, Tom-Tom et Nana, Zouk) for TV and SVOD platforms globally. Revenue from licensing iconic character IPs for audiovisual adaptation, co-productions, and international distribution.
- Events and Travel Services: Revenue from organizing and selling tickets to events (Terre Sauvage Festival, Via Aeterna Mont-Saint-Michel festival, Grand prix Pèlerin du patrimoine) and travel packages (family camps, trips, cruises organized through partners including BIPEL, EOLE, Telligo, UCPA, and KAIROS escape games).
- International Rights and Licensing: Bayard licenses its press and book content internationally — editions and adaptations in ~50 countries in more than 50 languages. Joint international publications of 1.2 million books through partnerships with Chronicle Books, Planeta, Panini, Shogakukan, and others. International offices in China (Bayard Bridge), Canada (Novalis, Bayard Canada Livres), and the US (Twenty-third Publications).
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels8 records
Marketing channels15 records
Groupe Bayard product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Groupe Bayard is a French Catholic media group that publishes 120 press titles (70 in France), more than 5,500 books with 800+ new releases per year, audiobooks and podcasts, and audiovisual children's content. The Group operates more than 200 websites, 100 apps, and produces iconic character franchises such as Petit Ours Brun, SamSam, Tom-Tom et Nana, and Zouk for TV and SVOD. It reaches 36 million readers worldwide with 5 million subscribers across press, book, audio, audiovisual, and digital platform offerings.
Product overview
Groupe Bayard is a diversified French media group operating across multiple platforms: press (daily, magazine, and children's publications), book publishing, audio (audiobooks, podcasts, radio), audiovisual (animation production), digital platforms and applications, media services (advertising and subcontracted publishing), and events. The group publishes 120 press titles (70 in France), over 5,500 books with 800+ new books annually, operates 200+ websites and apps, and reaches 36 million readers worldwide with 5 million subscribers. Core press brands include La Croix, Notre Temps, Le Pèlerin, and Prions en Église; children's media encompasses Bayard Éditions Jeunesse, Milan Presse, BD KIDS, and Bayam; audio-visual assets include Bayard Audio, Radio Pomme d'Api, and Bayard Animation. The group is organized around integrated content creation and distribution across multiple channels serving audiences from early childhood through seniors.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Bayard Éditions: Publishing house for culture, society and spirituality books
- Bayard Éditions Jeunesse
- Éditions Milan
- Éditions Tourbillon
- BD Kids
- Bande d'ados
- Bayard Jeux
- Éditions CRER-Bayard
- La Croix
- La Croix L'Hebdo
- Le Pèlerin
- Prions en Église
- Notre Temps
- Notre Temps Jeux
- Notre Temps Santé et Bien-Être
- Bayard Audio
- Bayard Animation
- Bayard Média Développement
- Bayard Service
- Radio Pomme d'Api
- ADF Bayard Musique
- Novalis
- Twenty-third Publication
- Twirl
- Bayard Bridge
- Bayam
- Croire.com
- Terre Sauvage
- Via Aeterna
Products and services
- La Croix
- Notre Temps
- Le Pèlerin
- Prions en Église
- Bayard Éditions
- Bayard Éditions Jeunesse
- Éditions Milan
- Éditions Tourbillon
- BD KIDS
- Bande d'ados
- Éditions CRER-Bayard
- Bayard Audio
- Radio Pomme d'Api
- ADF-Bayard Musique
- Bayard Animation
- Bayam
- La Croix Digital
- Enfant.com
- Notrefamille.com
- Bayard Média Développement
- Bayard Service
- Bayard Jeunesse press titles
- Milan Presse titles
Quantifiable outcome
- 36 million readers worldwide, 5 million subscribers
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use Groupe Bayard
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Groupe Bayard technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Groupe Bayard partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
16 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Club LandoyminorPartnership with Club Landoy as part of Groupe Bayard's proximity and advisory strategy for its senior readership audiences. Club Landoy is involved in Bayard's services related to retirement and the silver economy alongside the Notre Temps media brand.
- Trustbridge Global MediacoreJoint venture creating Bayard Bridge (Beijing, 2017), producing approximately 100 titles per year for children aged 2–12 from Bayard, Milan, and Tourbillon catalogues. Bayard Bridge is Bayard's primary vehicle for Chinese market penetration.
- Chronicle BookscoreUS partnership through which Tourbillon's large illustrated books are published under the Twirl label by Chronicle Books. One of Bayard's most important international publishing partners.
- PlanetacoreMajor international publishing partner for joint book publications and press licensing across Spanish-language markets.
- PaninicoreKey international partner for children's publishing and licensing across markets where Panini operates.
- WoongjincoreMajor Korean publishing partner for Bayard's children's books and magazines through joint international publications.
- ShogakukancoreLeading Japanese publishing partner for Bayard's children's book licensing and joint international publications.
- Zhejiang Juvenile and Children's Publishing HousecoreMajor Chinese children's publishing partner for joint international publications and licensing of Bayard's catalogue.
- Editorial Casals, Éditions SM, Il castello, AST, Ronshin Group, WPGminorAdditional international publishing partners across Spain, Italy, Russia, China, and Belgium for joint book publications and press licensing.
- Microsoft Ads, Google Ads, Meta Ads, TikTok Ads, Snapchat Ads, CriteocoreProgrammatic advertising and retargeting partners across Bayard's digital properties (La Croix, Notre Temps, Pèlerin, Bayard Jeunesse, Milan Jeunesse, BayaM, Prions en Église, etc.). Enable targeted digital advertising, audience reach expansion, and ad retargeting campaigns.
- EOLE, Alma Mundi, Vivatours, OSI, Ferme des AmaninsminorFamily travel partners for Bayard Jeunesse vacation and trip programs. Partners selected based on editorial project alignment with Bayard Jeunesse magazine themes.
- Telligo, UCPAminorSummer camp partners for Bayard Jeunesse children and family vacation programs. UCPA is also listed as a partner for Bayard Group travel offerings.
- KAIROS, John Doe (escape games)minorEscape game operators for physical escape room experiences based on Bayard characters Anatole Latuile (KAIROS Paris, John Doe Nantes) and Tom-Tom et Nana (KAIROS Paris). Physical venues that extend Bayard's intellectual property into immersive entertainment.
- René Martin / CREAcoreArtistic director and mastermind behind Via Aeterna Mont-Saint-Michel and Bay Music Festival (created 2017) in partnership with the Conseil départementale de la Manche and Centre des monuments nationaux. CREA is the creative force behind the Folle Journée de Nantes.
- Taboola, Weborama, AB Tasty, Qiota, TimeOneminorContent recommendation, retargeting, and personalization partners across Bayard's digital editorial properties. Used for displaying recommended content, targeted advertising, and website optimization.
- DailyMotion, Teads, Adagio, Adyoulike, BLIINK, Fuel Digital, Invibes, Liveramp, Hubvisor, Magnite, Media Square, Moneytag, NEXX360, Ogury, Smart Equativ, Smile Wanted, TripleliftminorProgrammatic advertising partners of Bayard Média Développement's advertising agency. Used for targeted advertising across Bayard's digital properties in compliance with IAB advertising chain consent requirements.
Scale indicators16 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Groupe Bayard competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Sanoma: Sanoma is a Nordic media and learning company with strong children's magazine and book publishing (among others in Belgium and the Netherlands) plus a K-12 learning business. Directly comparable on multi-country children's press and book publishing with similar subscription-driven business model.
- Egmont Publishing: Egmont Publishing is a Scandinavian children's book and magazine publisher with strong character franchises (Donald Duck, Wooody Woodpecker) and global licensing across print, digital, and animation. Closely comparable to Bayard Jeunesse on children's IP licensing, cross-format franchise exploitation, and international co-publishing.
- Reworld Media: Reworld Media is a French digital and print magazine publisher (Marie Claire, Télé Star, Science & Vie) with heavy emphasis on programmatic advertising and digital transformation. Comparable to Bayard Média Développement on advertising-driven media monetization, though more focused on tech-led transformation.
- Prisma Media: Prisma Media is the leading French magazine publisher (Gala, Voici, Femme Actuelle, Geo, Capital, Télé-Loisirs), directly comparable to Bayard's magazine portfolio and Notre Temps. Both operate multi-title French magazine subscription businesses and face similar structural pressure from print decline and digital migration.
- Fleurus Presse: Fleurus Presse is a French Catholic publisher of children's magazines and books (Astrapi, Phosphore, La Vie, Telerecre) with a nearly identical audience and content mix as Bayard Jeunesse. Operates in the same French Catholic publishing niche with overlapping subscription and newsstand distribution.
Regional players
- Bonnier Group: Bonnier is a Nordic family-owned media group spanning newspapers (Dagens Nyheter, Expressen), magazines, books, and business media. Comparable on the multi-format family-owned media conglomerate model, but primarily serves Swedish/Nordic rather than French/European markets.
Emerging players
- Scholastic: Scholastic is a US-based children's book publisher and education company, owner of the Harry Potter franchise in the US. Comparable to Bayard Jeunesse on children's book publishing and school-channel distribution, though with a primarily English-language and North American footprint.
Broad incumbents
- Hachette Livre (Lagardère): Hachette Livre is the largest French trade book publisher, spanning adult fiction, children's books (Hatier, Gautier-Languereau), illustrated works, and educational publishing under the Lagardère group. Comparable on book publishing scale and children's catalog, but operates at much larger scope across all trade categories.
- Groupe Madrigall: Madrigall is a major French publishing group (Gallimard, Flammarion, Casterman, Futuropolis, Fétu) covering literature, comics, and illustrated books. Comparable on French-language book publishing and children's comics (Casterman is a historic children's comics publisher), though with different ownership structure (private equity-backed).
- Mondadori Group: Mondadori is an Italian media group with book publishing (Mondadori, Rizzoli, Einaudi), magazines (Focus, Panorama, Grazia), and digital properties. Comparable to Bayard on the multi-format European media model with combined book and magazine publishing, though with a broader commercial focus.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Groupe Bayard social profiles
Digital presenceGroupe Bayard financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Groupe Bayard leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles16 records
Groupe Bayard subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries21 records
Groupe Bayard funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Groupe Bayard M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Groupe Bayard
What does Groupe Bayard do?
Groupe Bayard is a French Catholic media group that publishes 120 press titles (70 in France), more than 5,500 books with 800+ new releases per year, audiobooks and podcasts, and audiovisual children's content. The Group operates more than 200 websites, 100 apps, and produces iconic character franchises such as Petit Ours Brun, SamSam, Tom-Tom et Nana, and Zouk for TV and SVOD. It reaches 36 million readers worldwide with 5 million subscribers across press, book, audio, audiovisual, and digital platform offerings.
Is Groupe Bayard a public or private company?
Groupe Bayard is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Groupe Bayard founded?
Groupe Bayard was founded in 1873. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Groupe Bayard based?
Groupe Bayard is headquartered in Montrouge, France, in the Europe region.
How does Groupe Bayard make money?
Seven revenue lines are on record. Press Subscriptions and Newsstand Sales are the primary driver. The others are book Publishing, advertising and Media Services, audio and Podcast Revenue, audiovisual Production and Licensing, events and Travel Services and international Rights and Licensing.
Who are Groupe Bayard's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Sanoma, Egmont Publishing, Reworld Media, Prisma Media and Fleurus Presse. Bonnier Group is listed as a regional player. Scholastic is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Hachette Livre (Lagardère), Groupe Madrigall and Mondadori Group.
Does Groupe Bayard have an API?
No public API is recorded for Groupe Bayard.
What industry is Groupe Bayard in?
Groupe Bayard's product category is Publishing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJAFAO, Children’s Subscription & Book Club Publishing, with a secondary code of MPAJAFAK, Children’s Licensed & Media Tie-In Publishing. Its NAICS code is 513130 and its SIC code is 2731.