TF1 Video and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (SPHE) are joining forces to distribute video in the French market.

The two companies announced the joint venture today (June 1) and it will launch immediately. The deal will bring together a catalogue of over 6,000 titles that will account for about 20% of the French video market.

The distribution venture, which the companies are referring to as an ‘Economic Interest Group’, will be dedicated to commercial and physical distribution in traditional channels. Each entity will maintain separate control over acquisitions, production and marketing of titles.

The new venture will be overseen by Pierre Brossard, CEO of TF1 Video, and Pascal Fauveau who is managing director of SPHE. Brossard said, “The ‘Economic Interest Group’ is a natural next step in our history: to service TF1 Video products via a more powerful and more professional distribution organisation. We welcome this agreement with SPHE whose strategic direction is as close to ours than our catalogues are complementary. “

Upcoming titles to be released include Bryan Singer’s Valkyrie, Ron Howard’s Angels & Demons and McG’s Terminator Salvation.