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                                               Filed by The Seagram Company Ltd.
                           Pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act of 1933
                                        and deemed filed pursuant to Rule 14a-12
                                       under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

                                       Subject Company: The Seagram Company Ltd.
                                                      Commission File No. 1-2275

                                                                             and

                                                Subject Company: Canal Plus S.A.
                                                     Commission File No. 82-2270

                                                           Date: August 17, 2000


THE FOLLOWING IS A PRESS RELEASE                           MEDIA RELATIONS:
DISSEMINATED BY THE SEAGRAM COMPANY LTD.                   Anita M. Larsen
ON AUGUST 17, 2000                                         212/572-1118

                                                           INVESTOR RELATIONS:
                                                           Joseph M. Fitzgerald
                                                           212/572-7282
                                                           Eileen McLaughlin
                                                           212/572-8961


                IN U.S., HART-SCOTT-RODINO WAITING PERIOD EXPIRES
                      FOR PROPOSED BUSINESS COMBINATION OF
                           VIVENDI, SEAGRAM AND CANAL+

MONTREAL, August 17, 2000 -- The Seagram Company Ltd. [NYSE:VO] confirmed today
that the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act
of 1976 applicable to the proposed strategic business combination between
Vivendi, Seagram and Canal+ expired Saturday, August 12, 2000, at midnight.

The waiting period expired without a request for additional information from
U.S.antitrust authorities.


The Seagram Company Ltd., headquartered in Montreal, operates in four global
business segments: MUSIC, FILMED ENTERTAINMENT, RECREATION AND OTHER, and
SPIRITS AND WINE. Universal Music Group, the world's largest recorded music
company, produces, markets and distributes recorded music throughout the world
in all major genres, and it is engaged in music publishing. The Company's Filmed
Entertainment business produces and distributes motion picture, television and
home video products worldwide; operates and has ownership in a number of
international cable channels; and engages in the licensing of merchandising
rights and film property rights. The Recreation and Other business operates
theme parks and retail stores. It is also involved in the development of
entertainment software. The Spirits and Wine business is engaged principally in
the production and marketing of distilled spirits, wines, coolers, beers and
mixers throughout more than 190 countries and territories. The Company's
corporate website is located at www.seagram.com.

This release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the
"safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995. These statements are based on the current expectations or beliefs of
Seagram's management and are subject to a number of factors and uncertainties
that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the
forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this
release address the strategic business combination of Vivendi, Seagram and
Canal+.

The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ
materially from those described in the forward-looking statements: the risk that
the Vivendi, Seagram and Canal+ businesses will not be integrated successfully;
costs related to the business combination; failure of the Vivendi, Seagram or
Canal+ shareholders to approve the business combination; inability to further
identify, develop and achieve success for new products, services and
technologies; increased competition and its effect

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on pricing, spending, third-party relationships and revenues; and the inability
to establish and maintain relationships with commerce, advertising, marketing,
technology and content providers.

Investors and security holders are urged to read the joint proxy
statement/prospectus regarding the strategic business combination transaction
when it becomes available, because it will contain important information. The
joint proxy statement/prospectus will be filed with the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission by Vivendi, Seagram and Canal+. Investors and security
holders may obtain a free copy of the joint proxy statement/prospectus (when it
is available) and other documents filed by Vivendi, Seagram and Canal+ with the
Commission at the Commission's web site at www.sec.gov. The joint proxy
statement/prospectus and these other documents may also be obtained for free
from Seagram. Information regarding the participants in the proxy solicitation
and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings
or otherwise, is contained in the joint press release relating to the
transaction filed with the Commission by each of Vivendi and Seagram on June 20,
2000.



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