CMI France

What CMI France does

CMI France is a privately-held French media group founded in 2019, headquartered in Paris, that operates a portfolio of 12 heritage and contemporary media brands spanning women's lifestyle, decoration, gastronomy, news, society, television, and podcasts. The group's flagship properties include ELLE (founded 1945, 10.7M readers in France), ELLE Décoration, ELLE à table, Marianne, Version Femina, Art & Décoration, Franc-Tireur, VIEUX, T18 (a generalist TV channel), Loopsider, Louie Media (acquired 2022, France's leading narrative podcast studio with 50M+ cumulative listens), and Usbek & Rica. CMI France reaches 1 in 3 French people monthly, sells 117 million print copies annually, and has a cumulative audience of 10 million monthly readers across print and digital properties.

The business operates a dual GTM motion: a B2C stream spanning print magazine sales, digital subscriptions (ELLE.fr operates the first paywall in French women's press), the Franc-Tireur mobile app, the Box by ELLE curated subscription product, and consumer events; and a B2B stream through CMI Media, the group's advertising division, which sells premium integrated campaigns across print, digital, social media, podcast, TV, and experiential platforms to enterprise advertisers in luxury, beauty, fashion, automotive, and lifestyle sectors. Technology infrastructure includes a multi-platform content management system spanning elle.fr (9.3M unique monthly visitors), elleatable.fr (2M monthly visitors), brand-specific mobile applications, and Louie Media's podcast production studio. Distribution is omnichannel: print newsstands, proprietary subscription services (je m'abonne), app stores, podcast platforms, and the T18 television channel.

Revenue is generated through five streams: print magazine sales, digital subscriptions, CMI Media advertising (the largest), Louie Créatives branded podcast content, and event sponsorships (La Soirée ELLE, Prix des Artisanes, La Nuit des Chefs, Grand Prix des Lectrices). Pricing for consumer products is partially disclosed (Box by ELLE at 54€ general public, 44€ for ELLE subscribers; box value exceeds 350€), while subscription and advertising pricing is quote-based. The group's strategic posture is anchored on digital diversification, event-driven brand experiences, and vertical integration between editorial brands and advertising inventory.

Name

CMI France

Legal name

CMI France SAS

Website

https://cmifrance.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

CMI France is a privately-held French media group operating 12 heritage and digital media brands including ELLE, Marianne, and Louie Media, reaching 1 in 3 French people monthly. The group sells print magazines, digital subscriptions, advertising through CMI Media, and event sponsorships to consumer and enterprise clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Media Publishing

NAICS

Periodical Publishers (51312), Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers (5131)

SIC

Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721), Newspapers: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2711)

akta.pro primary industry

Online News & Magazine Publishing Platforms (CMS & Hosting) (MPAJAMAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

National & General-Interest Newspapers (Print & Digital) (MPAJADAA), Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) Sales & Merchandising (Publisher Stores, Bundles) (MPAJAKAD)

Keywords

• Women's magazine publishing
• Digital media advertising
• Premium content production
• Podcast production studio
• Lifestyle media brands

Headquarters

HQ city

Levallois-perret

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Print Magazine Sales: Sale of print magazine copies across 12 iconic titles including ELLE, ELLE Décoration, ELLE à table, Marianne, Art & Décoration, Version Femina, Franc-Tireur, VIEUX, T18, Loopsider, Louie Media, and Usbek & Rica. Published with varying frequencies (weekly for ELLE, bimonthly for ELLE à table, quarterly for VIEUX).
2. Digital Subscriptions: Digital subscriptions including access to ELLE.fr premium content, mobile applications (ELLE app, Franc-Tireur app), and Box by ELLE subscription product. ELLE operates a paywall model as the first paywall in French women's press.
3. CMI Media Advertising Revenue: CMI Media, the advertising division, generates revenue by transforming editorial influence into premium, engaging, and measurable advertising experiences for brands. Services include Designers d'expériences (native content), Media & Amplification, Brand Experiences Studio, Tech & Data solutions, and special operations.
4. Box by ELLE Product Sales: Sale of curated beauty and lifestyle box products. Each seasonal box includes approximately 9 beauty/wellness products from selected brands plus digital experiences. Priced at 54€ for general public and 44€ for ELLE subscribers. 5% of profits donated to charitable associations.
5. Louie Créatives Branded Content: Louie Media produces branded podcast content for advertisers through pre, mid, or post-roll integrations. Clients include Nike, American Express, Orange, Sony Pictures, Airbnb, and LinkedIn. Also offers exclusive season sponsorships and context-driven episode packages.
6. Event Sponsorships and Partnerships: Premium event properties offered as sponsorship platforms including La Soirée ELLE (1,500 participants annually), Prix des Artisanes, Grand Prix des Lectrices (275 attendees), La Nuit des Chefs (500+ covers per edition), and brand-specific events. Partners receive omnichannel visibility across print, digital, social, CRM, and on-site activations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

CMI France is a French media group operating a portfolio of 12 iconic and heritage media brands (ELLE, ELLE Décoration, ELLE à table, Art & Décoration, Version Femina, Marianne, Franc-Tireur, VIEUX, T18, Loopsider, Louie Media, Usbek & Rica) across print, digital, social, podcast, and TV platforms. The group sells advertising solutions through its CMI Media division, subscription boxes via Box by ELLE, and reaches 10 million monthly readers with 117 million copies sold annually.

Product overview

CMI France is a leading French media group operating a diversified portfolio of magazine brands, digital media, podcast production, and TV broadcasting. The core offering includes flagship magazine brands (ELLE, ELLE Décoration, ELLE à table, Art & Décoration, Version Femina, Marianne, Franc-Tireur), innovative media ventures (Loopsider, Louie Media, Usbek & Rica, VIEUX, T18), and an advertising division (CMI Media). The group delivers content across print, digital, social media, podcasts, events, and TV platforms, reaching 117 million copies sold annually and 10 million monthly readers across 12 emblematic brands.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ELLE: Women's fashion, beauty, and lifestyle magazine with multi-platform content including print, digital, social media, events, podcasts and services. Founded in 1945, now with 50 international editions.
• Version Femina
• Art & Décoration
• ELLE Décoration
• ELLE à table
• Marianne
• Franc-Tireur
• VIEUX
• T18
• Loopsider
• Louie Media
• Usbek & Rica

Products and services

• ELLE Flagship women's magazine offering multi-platform content including print, digital, social media, podcasts, and events. Features coverage of fashion, beauty, culture, and societal issues, with IPG status for political and general news. Reaches 10.7 million readers in France monthly across print and digital.
• ELLE Décoration High-end decoration and design magazine providing inspiration through exclusive home tours, design trends, and architectural features across print, digital, and social platforms. Reaches 1.2 million print readers and 416,000 unique monthly digital visitors, with 2.1 million social media followers.
• ELLE à table Premium food and gastronomy magazine published bimonthly, offering recipes, culinary trends, chef spotlights, and food culture content across print and digital platforms. Digital platform attracts 2 million unique monthly visitors with 823,000 print readers and 1.7 million social media followers.
• Art & Décoration Heritage interior design and decoration magazine operating across print and digital platforms within CMI France's media portfolio.
• Version Femina Women's health, well-being, and lifestyle magazine within the CMI France portfolio. Launched Partage(s) in 2025, a social-first digital media dedicated to women's health for ages 25-60.
• Marianne Iconic French news and political commentary magazine operating within CMI France's media portfolio.
• Franc-Tireur News magazine launched in 2021, celebrating its 4th anniversary in 2025 with a new mobile application offering 100% digital subscription, free trial, PDF issues upon publication, and offline reading capability.
• VIEUX Society and lifestyle quarterly magazine by Antoine de Caunes, targeting those who think about the present world and are curious about its future. Published as 132-page quarterly editions.
• Loopsider Innovative video news and documentary digital media platform within the CMI France portfolio.
• Usbek & Rica Forward-looking media brand exploring future trends, innovation, and societal changes within the CMI France portfolio.
• Louie Media France's leading narrative podcast production studio creating editorial podcasts (Émotions, Passages, Injustices, Faites des gosses) with 50 million total listens since 2018 and 1 million certified monthly listens. Louie Créatives offers branded podcast content for advertisers including Nike, American Express, Orange, Sony Pictures, Airbnb, and LinkedIn.
• T18 Generalist pluralist TV channel featuring documentaries, debates, and entertainment programming including 'Chez Ruquier' (Saturdays 7:30pm), '(En)quête de sens' (Monday evenings), and 'Pour tout dire' (weekdays 10:30pm). Broadcasts cultural programming defending freedom of expression and idea confrontation.
• Box by ELLE Seasonal curated beauty and lifestyle subscription box featuring partnered brand products. Each box includes approximately 9 beauty/wellness products plus digital experiences. Priced at €54 for general public and €44 for ELLE subscribers. 5% of profits donated to charitable associations.
• Partage(s) Social-first digital media dedicated to women's health and well-being for ages 25-60, natively designed for social networks (Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook) with expert-backed editorial content. Launched in 2025 by Version Femina.
• Rôles Modèles Podcast Documentary podcast revealing truthful portraits of women who marked culture and society beyond stereotypes, presented by journalist Sophie Marchand with rare archives and original musical creation. Features icons like LIO, Yoko Ono, Nina Simone, and Frida Kahlo.
• CMI Media Advertising Solutions CMI Media operates as the exclusive advertising division of CMI France, offering premium advertising solutions across the group's media ecosystem. Services include Designers d'expériences (native content), Media & Amplification, Brand Experiences Studio, Tech & Data solutions, and special operations. Reaches 10 million monthly readers and 9.3 million unique monthly visitors to ELLE.fr.

Quantifiable outcome

• 117 million copies sold annually across all publications
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• L'Oréal PariscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Historical supporter of La Soirée ELLE, accompanying women in revealing their full potential. L'Oréal Paris is integrated into the event program with speaking opportunities during conferences, masterclasses, and workshops, with visibility across the entire ELLE and CMI France ecosystem including on-site activations, print, digital, social, and CRM.
• Volvo Car FranceminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 20252025 partner of La Soirée ELLE event, integrated into the omnichannel partnership program with visibility across ELLE ecosystem.
• MeeticminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 20252025 partner of La Soirée ELLE event, included in the event's omnichannel partnership structure.
• BPI FranceminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 20252025 partner of La Soirée ELLE event, integrated into the event partnership program.
• EditisminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 20252025 partner of La Soirée ELLE event, participating in the event's partnership ecosystem.
• France InfominorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 20252025 partner of La Soirée ELLE event, with media partnership coverage.
• La Fondation des FemmesminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 20252025 partner of La Soirée ELLE event, supporting women's empowerment initiatives.
• Les Maisons des Femmes RestartminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 20252025 partner of La Soirée ELLE event, supporting women's shelter and support network initiatives.
• Tiffany & CocoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Premium brand partnership featuring Tiffany HardWear collection across ELLE magazine (3 double pages), TikTok, and Instagram with sponsored amplification campaign. Focus on women expressing strength through iconic jewelry pieces.
• Maisons du MondecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Spring-summer campaign with ELLE Décoration featuring print editorial, social media content (3 stories, 7 carousel posts on Facebook and Instagram), and immersive interactive mini-site. Resulted in 41,600 mini-site visits and 3.5M social media reach.
• Ritz PariscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Venue partner hosting La Soirée ELLE spéciale mode annual fashion event in the Ritz gardens. Provides exclusive setting for cocktail dinatoire with creators, actors, TV personalities, and advertisers.
• Ferrandi ParisminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Culinary school partner for Grand Concours de Recettes ELLE à table, providing jury members and professional expertise for the cooking competition final in Paris.
• KenwoodminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Prize sponsor for Grand Concours de Recettes ELLE à table, providing kitchen appliances as prizes for finalists.
• PhilbonminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Prize sponsor for Grand Concours de Recettes ELLE à table, providing fruit baskets as competition prizes.
• NikeminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2022Louie Créatives branded podcast sponsor, integrating brand messaging into Émotions podcast episodes.
• American ExpressminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2022Louie Créatives branded podcast sponsor for narrative podcast content.
• OrangeminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2022Louie Créatives branded podcast sponsor with hyper-link campaign integration.
• Sony PicturesminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2022Louie Créatives branded podcast sponsor for Passages podcast with LBC context integration.
• AirbnbminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2022Louie Créatives branded podcast sponsor with Kenza collaboration featured.
• LinkedInminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2022Louie Créatives branded podcast sponsor for professional network brand campaigns.
• LVMHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Supporting partner of Prix des Artisanes award, celebrating excellence of women in craft trades including fashion, design, table arts, wine and vineyards, French heritage preservation, and jewelry and watchmaking. LVMH brings prestige and support to this initiative recognizing female artisans.
• Artisans d'AvenircoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Partner organization supporting the Prix des Artisanes initiative, dedicated to promoting and recognizing excellence among women in craft and artisanal trades.
• Institut pour les savoir-faire françaiscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Institutional partner of Prix des Artisanes, supporting the recognition of French craftsmanship excellence among women artisans.
• France TélévisionscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Broadcasting partner of Prix des Artisanes, providing media visibility and support for the award celebrating women in artisanal excellence trades.

Scale indicators25 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Hearst Magazines: US-based global magazine publisher (Cosmopolitan, Harper's Bazaar, Elle US, Esquire). Maintains a much broader US/international footprint and competes directly with CMI France for luxury and beauty advertising budgets, especially through brands historically licensed with the ELLE masthead.
• Condé Nast: Global publisher of Vogue, GQ, Vanity Fair, Wired, and Architectural Digest. Operates at much larger international scale but addresses the same premium/luxury advertiser budgets and fashion/beauty editorial franchises that CMI France competes for through ELLE and ELLE Décoration.
• Lagardère (Hachette): Major French media group that historically published ELLE international and Paris Match via Hachette Filipacchi. Operates a broader portfolio including travel retail, publishing, and audiovisual, but is the incumbent that CMI France's magazine portfolio and event business most closely resemble at scale.

Direct peers

• Reworld Media: French digital-first media group operating lifestyle, tech, and entertainment brands (Marie France, Grazia, Science & Vie, Top Santé). Directly competes for audience and advertising spend across the same women's lifestyle, decoration, and consumer categories with a heavier digital tilt.
• Prisma Media: Leading French magazine publisher (Gala, Capital, Femme Actuelle, Voici, Geo). Directly competes with CMI France for French advertising budgets, magazine retail space, and lifestyle/people audience. Operates a similar print+digital portfolio and is the most direct French-market peer.
• Mondadori Group: Italian publisher of periodicals (Donna Moderna, PanoramA, Focus, Icon) and books across print, digital, and events. Closely comparable European magazine publisher with similar women's lifestyle, decoration, and food/culinary verticals and similar challenges migrating to digital subscriptions.
• Bauer Media Group: European magazine and audio publisher with heritage brands (Grazia UK, Closer, Woman) and a large podcast/audio business. Comparable multi-platform model spanning print, digital, podcasts, and audio advertising that competes for European women's lifestyle advertisers.
• Marie Claire Group (Marie Claire / Les Éditions Marie Claire): French women's fashion and lifestyle publisher with comparable print+digital footprint and audience. Directly competes in the same women's-magazine advertising segment that drives much of CMI France's CMI Media revenue.

Regional players

• Le Monde Group: French news publisher (Le Monde, Le Monde diplomatique, Télérama) operating across print and digital with successful subscription model. Overlaps with CMI France's news-oriented assets (Marianne, Franc-Tireur, Usbek & Rica) and competes for French news advertising and reader subscription wallet share.

Emerging players

• Bluenove (NielsenIQ / Louie Media-style branded podcast peers): French narrative-audio / branded-content producers that compete with Louie Media for branded podcast budgets from major advertisers such as Nike, American Express, and Orange. Comparable audio-first business models and overlapping advertiser client roster.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CMIMediaFrance
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ELLEFR
• Facebookfacebook.com/CMIMediaFrance/?locale=fr_FR
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cmi-france
• Instagraminstagram.com/cmifrance

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CMI France