Lukarn

What Lukarn does

Lukarn is an independent French television program distribution and production company founded in 2009 and headquartered in Neuilly-sur-Seine. The company operates a three-pillar business model covering: (1) distribution of a catalog exceeding 2,000 hours of TV programs in France and internationally, representing both French and foreign content across documentaries, performing arts, kids programming, and short fiction; (2) pre-financing of audiovisual projects through presales to broadcasters prior to production completion; and (3) production and co-production of TV programs in partnership with independent production companies.

The company serves media industry buyers exclusively through a gated B2B platform where registered and validated media professionals can preview program trailers and full videos, download marketing materials (line-ups, dossiers, catalogs), and initiate rights negotiation. Lukarn negotiates all types of broadcast and exploitation rights including TV, video-on-demand, and inflight entertainment, with pricing conducted on a case-by-case basis. The technical stack consists of a WordPress-based website hosted by OVH in Roubaix, France, with video content delivered via Vimeo.

Lukarn maintains a presence at key international television markets including MIPCOM and Le Havre RDV to present new programs to international broadcasters and buyers. The company is organized as a société anonyme with stated share capital of €5,000 (R.C.S. Nanterre 517 560 744), operates without disclosed external investors or parent company ownership, and has no publicly reported revenue or headcount figures. Notable co-production partners include ALMA Productions, VANDELAY, AH ! Productions, and PARAMONTI, with AMC Networks Spain disclosed as a pre-sale buyer for the 2025 documentary series 'Ancient Cities: The Builders of History.'

Name

Lukarn

Legal name

LUKARN

Website

https://lukarn.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Lukarn is an independent French company founded in 2009 that distributes, pre-finances, and co-produces TV programs for international broadcasters, streaming platforms, and inflight entertainment via a gated B2B platform and trade show presence.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

TV Program Distribution and Rights Licensing

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Distribution (512120)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

International TV Program Distribution (Sales/Output Deals) (MPABAMAD)

Keywords

• TV program distribution
• Broadcast rights licensing
• Audiovisual pre-financing
• Content co-production
• International program sales

Headquarters

HQ city

Neuilly-sur-seine

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Program Distribution: Distribution in France and internationally of a catalog of TV programs. Lukarn represents French and foreign programs and handles negotiation of all types of broadcast and exploitation rights (TV, VoD, inflight). The company sells broadcast rights to media companies, broadcasters, and streaming platforms.
2. Pre-financing / Pré-ventes: Pre-financing of audiovisual projects through presales to broadcasters before production completion. Lukarn commits to financing projects in exchange for broadcast rights.
3. Production and Co-production: Production or co-production of various types of TV programs. Lukarn acts as producer or co-producer on select projects, generating revenue through program ownership and rights.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Lukarn distributes in France and internationally a catalog of more than 2,000 hours of TV programs (documentaries, performing arts, kids content, and short fiction), representing both French and foreign productions. The company also pre-finances audiovisual projects through presales to broadcasters, produces or co-produces select TV programs, and negotiates all types of broadcast and exploitation rights (TV, VoD, inflight) with media professionals who access the content through a gated B2B online platform.

Product overview

Lukarn is an independent company created in 2009 that operates as a TV program distribution, production, and co-production company. With more than 2000 hours of programs, its catalog consists of recent, high-quality content across four main categories: Documentaries (covering technology, nature, history, music, and social issues), Performing Arts (concerts, circus, dance, theater), Kids (youth programming), and Fictions & Shorts. The company distributes content in France and internationally, pre-finances audiovisual projects through pre-sales, and produces or co-produces programs. Lukarn also handles negotiation of rights including TV, VoD, and in-flight entertainment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• TV Program Distribution

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• ALMA ProductionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerALMA Productions is a production company that co-produced the program 'RIVIERA 76': the Forgotten Woodstock' with Lukarn. Lukarn distributes the program internationally.
• VANDELAYminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVANDELAY is a production company that produced the program 'U2: 50 Years of Success!' with Lukarn handling international distribution.
• Vimeo (Vimeo, Inc.)Technology or IntegrationVimeo provides video hosting services for Lukarn's platform, hosting program videos accessible to registered media professionals.
• AH ! ProductionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAH ! Productions co-produced the documentary series 'Ancient Cities: the Builders of History' with Lukarn. AMC Networks Spain has pre-purchased broadcast rights.
• AMC Networks SpainminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAMC Networks Spain has pre-purchased (presale) broadcast rights for the documentary series 'Ancient Cities: the Builders of History' produced with AH ! Productions.
• PARAMONTIminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPARAMONTI is a production company that produced the program 'Walibi: The Technology Behind Thrill Roller Coasters' with Lukarn distributing internationally.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• All3Media International: All3Media International handles worldwide distribution for All3Media's production labels across factual, entertainment, and drama. Comparable to Lukarn in distribution function but operates at significantly larger scale with a multi-label portfolio.
• BBC Studios: BBC Studios is the commercial distribution and production arm of the BBC, with one of the largest international content catalogs spanning factual, scripted, and kids. Competes with Lukarn in the same buyer RFPs and trade shows but at vastly greater scale.
• ZDF Studios: ZDF Studios is the distribution and co-production arm of German public broadcaster ZDF, handling international sales of a large factual, scripted, and kids catalog. It competes head-to-head with Lukarn at MIPCOM and similar markets but operates at materially larger scale with broadcaster backing.
• Fremantle: Fremantle is a global production and distribution company operating across entertainment, drama, and factual. It is comparable in business model (production + international distribution) but operates at a far larger scale with major studio backing.

Direct peers

• Attraction Distribution: Attraction Distribution is a Canadian independent distributor of factual, lifestyle, and documentary programming with international sales operations. Closely matches Lukarn's B2B distribution model across factual content.
• Beta Film: Beta Film is an independent German TV distribution and co-production company with a large international catalog across scripted, factual, and kids content. It is directly comparable to Lukarn in operating model (distribution + co-production + international sales) and target market (global broadcasters and platforms).
• Blue Ant Media: Blue Ant Media is a Canadian-based global media company that produces and distributes factual, lifestyle, and kids content internationally. Comparable to Lukarn's integrated production-distribution approach and genre mix.
• Off the Fence: Off the Fence is an independent factual content distributor and producer with international reach across documentaries and unscripted programming. Directly comparable to Lukarn's documentary and performing arts categories and its distribution + production hybrid model.
• TVF International: TVF International is a UK-based independent factual content distributor specializing in documentaries for international broadcasters and streaming platforms. Directly comparable to Lukarn's documentary distribution activities and B2B sales motion.
• WildBrain Distribution: WildBrain (formerly DHX Media) is a Canadian kids content distributor and producer with a large international catalog. Comparable to Lukarn's kids programming vertical and its combined distribution/co-production model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lukarn

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Lukarn