Program33

What Program33 does

Program33 is a privately held French audiovisual production company (société par action simplifiée) headquartered in Paris, founded in 1985. The company specializes in three product lines: documentaries, cultural magazines (notably the avant-garde magazine 'Tracks'), and brand content. Its documentary portfolio spans historical docufiction, societal investigation, and cultural portraiture, with notable titles including Notre-Dame de Paris: The Age of the Builders (over 10 million cumulative viewers on France Télévisions), Nous Paysans (over 5 million viewers on France 2), Decolonisations, The Joan of Arc Case (a 3D-animated docudrama), Life Without School, Clean Torture, and Jane Birkin and Us.

Program33 operates a project-based production model rather than a technology platform. There is no proprietary technology stack disclosed; output relies on conventional audiovisual production capabilities enhanced by 3D animation integration in selected docufiction titles. The company functions as an independent producer financed through broadcast pre-sales, co-production agreements, public subsidies, and international distribution, rather than as a technology vendor.

The revenue model centers on broadcast licensing and co-production agreements with major French and European public broadcasters—primarily France Télévisions (France 2, France 3) and Arte, supplemented by RTBF (Belgium), Phoenix (Germany), RTS (Switzerland), and TV5 Monde. Production financing is layered with public funding from the Centre national du cinéma (CNC), Creative Europe MEDIA Programme, regional French film funds (Île-de-France, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur), collecting society Procirep-Angoa, and Belgian federal Tax Shelter. Distribution beyond primary broadcast is handled through Arte Distribution, ZED, and Arte.tv VOD. The company is family-led, with Fabrice Coat as legal representative and executive producer and Louis Coat as webmaster and Data Protection Officer, and operates with a headcount band of 11-50 employees.

Name

Program33

Legal name

PROGRAM33

Website

https://program33.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Program33 is a privately held Paris-based audiovisual production company founded in 1985 that produces documentaries, cultural magazines, and brand content for major French and European public broadcasters, including France Télévisions and Arte.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Audiovisual Production

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Production (51211), Postproduction Services and Other Motion Picture and Video Industries (51219), Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries (512)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Services-Allied To Motion Picture Production (7819), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Distribution (7822)

akta.pro primary industry

Business, Politics & Current Affairs Documentaries (MPADADAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Training, Safety & Compliance Video (MPADAEAM), VFX Production & Supervision (2D/3D, Compositing, FX, CG) (MPADAHAA), Audio Production & Podcasting (BPAFAIAE)

Keywords

• Documentary production
• Audiovisual production
• Broadcast content
• Brand content creation
• Cultural magazine programming

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Program33 is a Paris-based audiovisual production company that develops, produces, and delivers long-form documentaries (historical docufictions, investigative documentaries, portrait films), cultural magazine-format programming (such as Tracks), and branded content for external clients. Productions are commissioned and distributed through partnerships with major French and European public broadcasters (France Télévisions, Arte, RTBF, Phoenix, TV5 Monde) and international distribution arms.

Product overview

Program33 is an audiovisual production company based in Paris specializing in documentaries, magazines, and brand content. The company produces a portfolio of productions organized into three main product categories: Documentaries (historical, societal, cultural, and investigative films), Magazines (cultural programming including the 'Tracks' series), and Brand Content (corporate media). Major productions include 'The Joan of Arc Case' (3D-animated docudrama), 'Life Without School' (society documentary), 'Decolonisations' (history series), 'Notre-Dame de Paris' (docufiction), and 'Tracks' (cultural magazine). Productions are distributed through platforms including Arte.tv and France Télévisions, with reach across French, English, and German-speaking markets.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Documentaries Long-form documentary productions covering history, society, art, culture, and contemporary issues; includes historical docufictions, investigative documentaries, and portrait films. Produced for French and European public broadcasters and distributed via Arte.tv and France Télévisions platforms.
• Magazines Magazine-format cultural programming, including the cultural avant-garde magazine 'Tracks' featuring 30' and 43' episodes. Produced for broadcast channels such as ARTE.
• Brand Content Branded content and corporate media productions developed for external clients and partners, including artist-driven documentaries co-produced with record labels (e.g., Universal Music France).
• The Joan of Arc Case (L'Affaire Jeanne d'Arc) 90' and 52' 3D-animated docudrama exploring Joan of Arc's rehabilitation trial 25 years after her execution; combines historical investigation with 3D animation, distributed via France Télévisions, RTBF, and Phoenix.
• Life Without School (Des vies sans école) Documentary examining homeschooling in France, following families and children who remain outside the traditional school system; aired on France Télévisions.
• Tracks Magazine series covering cultural avant-garde, featuring 30' and 43' episodes on art and culture topics; broadcast on ARTE.
• Decolonisations Three-part documentary series (3x52') examining decolonization history; distributed via Arte.tv VOD.
• Notre-Dame de Paris: The Age of the Builders 97' historical docufiction with animation telling the story of the Cathedral of Notre-Dame; achieved over 10 million cumulative viewers on France Télévisions.
• Jane Birkin and Us 110' portrait documentary of artist Jane Birkin, exploring her life and artistic freedom.
• Nous Paysans: Story of the French Farmers 91' documentary on French farmers and agricultural society; achieved audience success with over 5 million viewers on France 2.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AT-ProdcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoproduction partner for 'The Joan of Arc Case' (2023), contributing to the 3D animated docudrama about the rehabilitation trial of Joan of Arc.
• CircuscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoproduction partner for 'The Joan of Arc Case' (2023), collaborating on the historical docufiction with 3D animation.
• KobaltcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoproduction partner for 'The Joan of Arc Case' (2023), involved in the production of the medieval cold case documentary.
• ZEDcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution partner for 'Clean Torture: An American Fabrication', handling international distribution of the documentary.
• ARTE FrancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoproduction partner for 'Off-track circus' and multiple other productions, a major European broadcaster and coproduction partner.
• France TélévisionscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPrimary broadcast partner for numerous productions including 'The Joan of Arc Case', 'Notre-Dame de Paris', 'Nous Paysans', and 'Life Without School'. Major French public broadcaster.
• Centre national du cinéma et de l'image animée (CNC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench national film and audiovisual body providing participation and support funding for productions.
• Creative EuropecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean Union MEDIA Programme providing support for 'The Joan of Arc Case' and other productions.
• RTBF (Radio Télévision Belge Francophone)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBelgian French-language broadcaster participating in coproductions such as 'The Joan of Arc Case'.
• Phoenix (German Broadcaster)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGerman educational broadcaster partner for 'The Joan of Arc Case' distribution.
• Procirep-AngoaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollecting society of television and movie producers providing support for productions.
• Île-de-France RegionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional government providing film production support for 'The Joan of Arc Case'.
• Radio Télévision Suisse (RTS)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSwiss broadcaster participating in 'Clean Torture: An American Fabrication' production.
• TV5 MondeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFrench-language international broadcaster partner for productions such as 'The Treasures of Marcel Pagnol'.
• Provence Alpes Côte-d'Azur RegionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional government providing support for 'The Treasures of Marcel Pagnol' documentary.
• Universal Music FrancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoproduction partner with OFF Productions for 'Florent Pagny: The Bare Voice', combining music industry resources with documentary production.
• OFF ProductionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoproduction partner with Universal Music France for 'Florent Pagny: The Bare Voice' documentary.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• ZED: Paris-based independent production and international distribution company specializing in documentaries and factual programming. Directly comparable to Program33 as both produce premium documentaries and have similar broadcaster-led distribution models.
• Gedeon Programmes: Paris-based independent production company producing documentaries, docufictions, and magazine formats for French and European broadcasters including Arte and France Télévisions. Highly comparable in content type, format range, and customer base.
• Flair Production: Paris-based production company producing documentaries, docufictions, and magazine formats for Arte and France Télévisions. Closely comparable in format diversity, niche subject matter, and broadcast partners.
• Elephant Doc: French documentary and factual production company producing films for Arte, France Télévisions, and other European broadcasters. Compares directly to Program33 in subject matter (history, society, culture) and broadcast-driven distribution model.
• Yuzu Productions: Paris-based production company producing documentaries, docufictions, and 52' magazine formats for Arte, France Télévisions, and other European broadcasters. Directly comparable in output format and broadcast partner mix.
• Docland Yard: French documentary production company supporting independent filmmakers, with strong relationships to Arte and French public broadcasters. Comparable as a boutique documentary producer serving the same commissioning clients.
• Les Films d'Ici: Veteran French independent production house producing documentaries, docufictions, and animated films for French and European public broadcasters. Comparable in scale, format diversity, and broadcaster relationships.
• Seppia: French independent production company producing documentaries and factual content for European broadcasters, with a focus on cultural and societal topics. Comparable in content positioning and broadcaster relationships.
• CC&C (Compagnie & Cie): French independent production company producing documentaries, docufictions, and magazine programs for Arte, France Télévisions, and TV5 Monde. Highly comparable in format mix (docufictions, magazine shows) and broadcaster focus.

Broad incumbents

• Newen Studios: Larger French production group (TF1 subsidiary) producing fiction, documentaries, and unscripted content across multiple European markets. Comparable as a French broadcaster-supplier but at significantly greater scale and broader portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/program33
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC8EncLrugw-ORVIBl1utsUA
• Facebookfacebook.com/program33
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/program33
• Instagraminstagram.com/program33

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Program33