Paris, July 7 – Forward Global, a leading group in strategic intelligence and risk management, announced today the acquisition of TMG (Trident Media Guard). This acquisition strengthens the group’s technological and operational capabilities and positions Forward Global among the international leaders in the fight against content piracy.
A unique and enhanced service offering in the fight against IPTV piracy Drawing on its multidisciplinary expertise, Forward Global is now the only company to combine, within a single anti-piracy offering, three complementary areas of expertise: investigations, to fuel litigation strategies against major piracy networks; communications and public affairs, to support rights holders in regulatory and reputational matters and technology, to limit access to illegal content online. In this latter area, Forward Global had already acquired Leakid in 2022, a French pioneer in the fight against piracy, one of the world leaders in search engine de-indexing, and a recognized leader in notice-and-takedown procedures on social media and pirate sites. The merger complements this technological offering, particularly in the fight against IPTV piracy—a phenomenon that has become the industry’s primary threat—an area in which TMG has developed significant expertise.
An indispensable partner to the cultural industry worldwide
Supporting the vast majority of French players in the audiovisual, music, publishing, and media industries, the alliance between Forward Global and TMG undoubtedly creates a French leader. Above all, it gives rise to a leading international player, the majority of whose revenue is now generated abroad. Already established in France, the United States, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Tunisia, and Côte d’Ivoire, Forward Global is now expanding its presence in Asia with an office in Bangkok. This new location enables the group to provide operational support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
A leading player in the fight against sports piracy
As the protection of sports rights has become a major issue in the face of the rise of IPTV piracy, Forward Global and TMG have joined forces to become a leading player, providing day-to-day support to many of the world’s largest sports leagues and major international broadcasters.
Forward Global is also becoming a leading player in the implementation of judicial or regulatory measures to block pirated services in Europe, Africa, and Asia. In this regard, the merger comes at a pivotal moment for the French sports industry, as TMG is the technical partner of the rights holders who spearheaded the very first IP address blocking actions carried out under the auspices of ARCOM (French regulatory Authority for Audiovisual and Digital Communication) — actions that are continuing throughout the World Cup. This marks a first in France.
Strategic Continuity and Ambition
To ensure continued growth, Bastien Casalta and Alain Ghamine — founders of TMG — will support Forward Global as Senior Advisors. The TMG teams are joining the Content & Brand Protection division, which had previously welcomed LeakID. All areas of expertise and services will now be consolidated under the Forward Content & Brand Protection brand, while the technology platforms will be gradually integrated into a shared R&D roadmap.
“I am very pleased to welcome TMG to our group. This merger marks a new stage in the development of our business, which is now truly international in scope. Beyond our many complementary strengths, I am excited about the new services we will be able to develop together. There’s no shortage of ideas: to that end, this summer we’re launching a plan to accelerate our R&D by doubling the size of our technical team,” says Vincent Helluy, Partner and Head of Content and Brand Protection at Forward Global.
