Canal+ Technologies CEO Francois Carayol expects conditional access and middleware technology vendor to play a key role in industry consolidation. He pointed to Thomson Multimedia’s acquisition of Canal+ Technologies from the Canal+ Group last September for around 190 million euros ($203.5 million).

In terms of further industry consolidation, Carayol said: “We have agreed with our shareholders that we want to participate in industry consolidation. If opportunities arrive, we want to be a player.”

Carayol also expects the company to turn the corner financially in 2003. “The first challenge is to meet the objectives set by the shareholders,” Carayol said. “We have very ambitious targets, in terms of revenues and profits. Hopefully, we will be profitable this year.”

An exclusive interview with Francois Carayol can be found in the April 9 issue of Interspace. For more information about subscribing to PBI Media’s satellite newsletters, check out our Web site at https://www.satellitetoday.com.