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Canal+ S.A.

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Canal+ S.A.
Company typePublic (since 9 December 2024)
IndustryMedia, Telecommunications
FoundedNovember 1984
FounderAndré Rousselet, Pierre Lescure
Headquarters
Issy-les-Moulineaux, Paris
,
France
Area served
France, Europe, Africa, Asia-Pacific, French Overseas Territories
Key people
Vincent Bolloré (Chairman since 2015)
ProductsSubscription television channels, OTT subscription video-on-demand platform, film production and distribution (via StudioCanal)
OwnerIndependent (since 9 December 2024; formerly subsidiary of Vivendi until that date)
ParentNone (separated from Vivendi on 9 December 2024)

Canal+ S.A., previously known as Groupe Canal+, is a French media conglomerate and telecommunications giant headquartered in Paris. The company manages its own OTT subscription video-on-demand platform, operates subscription-based television channels within France, distributes channels from external providers, and plays a pivotal role in funding domestic film production, backing the majority of movies produced in France. Until 9 December 2024, Canal+ was a subsidiary under the French conglomerate Vivendi.

After its separation from Vivendi, Groupe Canal+ transformed into an independent organization named Canal+ S.A. on 9 December, with intentions to debut on the London Stock Exchange on 16 December 2024.

The corporation holds ownership of various subsidiaries engaged in film production and distribution, including StudioCanal. Outside mainland France, Canal+ maintains subsidiaries across Europe, Africa, the Asia-Pacific region, and the French Overseas Territories.

Subscription channel and production company (1984)

The subscription-based channel Canal+ was introduced in November 1984, entering a French television landscape dominated by three state-run broadcasters. It was co-founded by André Rousselet, head of the advertising agency Havas, alongside Pierre Lescure. The channel swiftly attracted attention from media insiders and political figures alike. At launch, subscriptions reached 186,000, with customers paying 140 francs (approximately 21.34 euros) monthly. 

(c.1947–2015) joined the company in 1986, progressing from production director to director general between 1986 and 2000. De Greef played a crucial role in defining Canal+’s unique identity marked by nonconformity and sharp satire, introducing landmark shows such as Les Guignols de l'Info, Nulle part ailleurs, and Groland.

Despite initial resistance from political quarters including Prime Minister Laurent Fabius, Rousselet leveraged his relationship with President François Mitterrand to secure advantageous terms. Under Lescure’s guidance, Canal+ blended American popular series with exclusive French dramas to build its subscriber base. Regulatory requirements mandated free programming during certain daily hours, which Canal+ effectively utilized to encourage paid subscriptions.

At first, films accounted for 45% of broadcast time; however, Canal+ expanded its offerings to include sports coverage, interviews, documentaries, and softcore adult content. The liberalization of French television in 1985 introduced new competitors, yet Canal+ sustained growth through assertive marketing strategies. By 1989, subscriber numbers approached three million. Its European footprint extended to Belgium, Spain, and Germany through a partnership with Bertelsmann and the Kirch Group, launching the channel Premiere TV. In April 1990, Canal+ Horizons debuted in Africa, establishing the company as Europe’s leading subscription broadcaster and second worldwide after HBO.

Confronted with rising expenses for American programming rights during the mid-1980s, Canal+ redirected focus toward film production. On 1 January 1987, it established Canal+ Productions, which later partnered with Universal Pictures. Subsequently, on 1 March 1987, Ellipse Programs was created to produce television content for multiple networks. The launch of Canal+ Horizons on 18 April 1990 enabled content distribution throughout Africa. The company went public in 1987.

By December 1990, Canal+ Productions was renamed Le Studio Canal+, releasing its inaugural film The Double Life of Veronique directed by Krzysztof Kieślowski. In the early 1990s, Canal+ emerged as a dominant force in French cinema, obligated to allocate 10% of its revenue to French film productions and recognized as Europe’s largest purchaser of American film rights. In 1991, it acquired a 5% shareholding in American studio Carolco Pictures. Nonetheless, financial challenges surfaced in 1992 following Carolco’s restructuring process.

Satellite broadcasting (1992)

On 6 December 1991, CanalSatellite was established, marking Canal+'s initial venture into satellite broadcasting in 1992 to serve regions of France not covered by cable networks. This entity was launched as a fully owned subsidiary on the same day. By 27 April 1996, Canal+ broadened its channel lineup by introducing two complementary channels: Canal+ Jaune and Canal+ Bleu. In 1999, Canal+ joined forces with Vivendi to form V-Net and further extended its reach into Europe and the United Kingdom through collaborations with BSkyB, TVS, acquiring NetHold in the Netherlands, and obtaining majority ownership of France's NC Numericable.

In 1994, founder Rousselet departed from the board, with director-general Lescure stepping in as his successor.

January 1996 saw Le Studio Canal+ purchase the film library of the bankrupt Carolco Pictures for $56 million, marking its inaugural significant acquisition of a film catalog; it also acquired a film library from UGC DA. On 27 April 1996, CanalSatellite introduced a digital satellite platform featuring 24 channels alongside interactive services, including Canal+ Jaune (which was later renamed Canal+ Cinema) and Canal+ Bleu (subsequently rebranded as Canal+ Confort).

On 1 December 1998, all operations related to film, television, music, and video production were unified under Canal+ Image, which was rebranded as StudioCanal in 2000. The following year, Canal+ Technologies was founded to design and commercialize access control and interactivity solutions.

21st century

In January 2000, the Lagardère Group acquired substantial shares in the digital television sector: 34% of CanalSatellite and nearly 27.5% of MultiThematiques, investing over million euros. Lagardère also purchased Vivendi's 30.2% holding in MultiThematiques. In February 2000, Canal+ integrated its television production company Ellipse Programme into Expand, a leading French audiovisual content producer which it fully owned by June 2001.

On 9 December 2000, Vivendi took control of Canal+, leading to the creation of Vivendi Universal on 11 December through its merger with Seagram. Groupe Canal+, encompassing Canal+ Distribution, Canal+ Régie, and the Canal+ channel itself, became entirely owned by Vivendi Universal but was legally restricted to maintaining only a 49% stake in the channel.

Between 2000 and 2002, Virginie Calmels occupied crucial executive positions including Chief Financial Officer and joint Chief Operating Officer. In 2001, co-founder Alain De Greef was succeeded by Michel Denisot amid restructuring efforts led by Vivendi CEO Jean-Marie Messier. In April 2002, CEO Pierre Lescure was dismissed following concerns over Vivendi’s stock market performance.

In July 2003, StudioExpand divested its animation unit Ellipse Animation to media conglomerate Média-Participations. The subsequent year saw remaining assets such as Adventure Line Productions and Starling sold off to various purchasers including Tele Images Group and Sony Pictures Television.

On 23 May 2005, the brand name CanalSatellite was changed to Canalsat.

From 2006 through 2009, an alternative logo for Canal+ was utilized.

Starting on 7 December 2010, all Canal+ channels along with the full lineup of approximately 90 Canalsat channels became accessible live via Microsoft's Xbox 360 platform.

In December 2013, Canal+ launched CanalStart to support startups in media and technology through financial backing or contractual partnerships. It showcased at SXSW in 2014 and formed a commercial partnership with Wildmoka in April 2015 after winning MIPLab’s global B2B startup contest. The company was officially removed from the business register in November 2016.

September 2015 marked Vivendi chairman Vincent Bolloré assuming leadership at Canal+, initiating executive reshuffles and aligning operations with Vivendi’s broader strategic objectives.

In May 2019, Groupe Canal+ purchased Luxembourg-based pay-TV operator M7 Group for more than $1.1 billion, thereby expanding its footprint into Benelux and Central European markets while regaining access to the Dutch market through Canal Digitaal.

December 2019 saw Canal+ secure an exclusive distribution agreement with Disney ahead of Disney+'s launch in France scheduled for March 2020. This arrangement granted exclusive rights to Disney’s content including franchises such as Star Wars and Avengers along with sole distribution rights for Disney channels in France while retaining National Geographic, Voyage, and Fox Play channels.

On 16 December 2024, Canal+ S.A. commenced trading on the London Stock Exchange following its separation from Vivendi; shares opened at 290 pence but closed lower at 242 pence.

Former channels

Canal+ 3D was introduced in June 2010 to showcase selected matches of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in three-dimensional format. Subsequently, its programming was limited to one film and one live event per month, featuring 3D content sourced from the UK and Spain. Due to a subscriber base of roughly 30,000, the channel discontinued broadcasts on 24 January 2012. However, its transmissions remained available through Canal's PVR devices and IPTV providers Free and SFR, with intentions to offer 200 hours of 3D coverage during the London 2012 Olympics.

Previously known as Canal+ 16/9 until March 2005, Canal+ Hi-Tech specialized in movies presented in 16:9 aspect ratio and high-definition television. The channel was phased out once Canal+ fully transitioned to the 16:9 broadcasting standard.

Description

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The group distributes third-party channels and services while playing a significant role as a financial backer for French film productions, supporting the majority of domestic cinema. Its subsidiary, StudioCanal, is actively engaged in both producing and distributing films.[1] The Wall Street Journal has identified Canal+ as "the largest financial supporter of the French film sector."

By 2023, Canal+ had established itself among the top 50 most influential French brands worldwide, boasting 26.4 million subscribers across 50 countries. StudioCanal manages 14 production companies throughout Europe and the United States and maintains a catalog exceeding 9,000 titles.[1]

Governance and people

Canal+ S.A. is governed by a dual board structure, consisting of a Supervisory Board (Conseil de Surveillance) alongside an Executive Committee (Comité éxecutif).

As of May 2024, Jean-Christophe Thiery holds the position of president of the Supervisory Board.

Key leadership figures include:

  • Maxime Saada – CEO of Canal+ S.A., president of StudioCanal, president and director general of Dailymotion, vice-president of Lagardère group, president of L'Olympia, and director at Vivendi
  • Anna Marsh – deputy director and director-general at StudioCanal
  • Gregoire Castaing – deputy director responsible for finance and strategy
  • Jacques du Puy – president of Canal+ International

Canal+

The primary brand is Canal+, a French premium television channel established in 1984. It remains encrypted for most hours daily; subscribers gain access to prominent programming such as recent movie releases and live sports events. Canal+ is accessible through multi-channel satellite or cable packages.

Canal+ (provider and OTT streaming platform)

Originally launched as Canal Satellite Numérique in 1992 and later rebranded as Canalsat, this entity functions as a pay satellite and IPTV distributor. The subscription video-on-demand OTT streaming service commenced in 2013 under the name "myCanal," which was subsequently renamed Canal+.

StudioCanal

Founded in 1988 and previously affiliated with NBCUniversal until 2011, StudioCanal operates within Germany, Japan, Australia, and additional markets. It stands as a prominent force within the European film industry.

Since 2011, StudioCanal has allocated roughly €200 million annually toward film production, establishing itself as an international leader in producing high-end films such as Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, which it fully financed.

Thema

Thema, a subsidiary of the Canal+ Group, oversees the distribution of Pay TV offerings, FAST channels, YouTube Channels, and various other media to cable, IPTV, DTH providers, as well as streaming platforms. By 2024, Thema distributes more than 180 television channels worldwide, maintaining partnerships spanning France, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Canada, Latin America, and the United States.

Established in 2005 by François Thiellet and acquired by Canal+ in 2014—at which time Canal+ was also the parent company of Nollywood TV—Thema broadened its global footprint in January 2024 by taking on distribution responsibilities for Brazilian media conglomerate Grupo Globo across Asian markets such as Japan, South Korea, India, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Singapore. Thema America, its branch dedicated to Latin America, joined forces with SPI International in January 2024 to introduce new channel offerings.

Historical operations

Movie Network, an Australian premium television service launched in 1995, was founded through a collaboration involving Canal+, HBO (WarnerMedia), The Walt Disney Company, MGM/UA, and Village Roadshow. Canal+ eventually withdrew from this alliance.

In Brazil, Canal Plus became the pioneer cable TV channel in 1989 via the MMDS technology, featuring some content from ESPN. The Brazilian segment was sold to Grupo Abril in 1991.

Canal+ International

Canal+ International, a group subsidiary, had amassed 6.6 million subscribers by December 31, 2023, across over 50 nations including regions in Africa, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and French Overseas Territories located in the Caribbean and Indian Ocean. As of 2024, it offers more than 100 channels tailored for international audiences.

In November 2017, Quebec’s cable operator Videotron began carrying Canal+ International services, marking its debut on Canadian platforms. This followed an earlier attempt in 2013 that involved a paid Canal+ Canada channel available on Dailymotion. By August 2018, Canal+ International was also accessible in HD via DirecTV channel 2010 in the United States.

Africa

Canal+ Afrique, originally launched as Canal Horizons in 1991 with broadcasts primarily targeting Tunisia and Senegal, reached 8.1 million subscribers by late 2023. In July 2014, the group introduced A+, a pan-African channel headquartered in Abidjan aimed at family audiences within French-speaking Africa.

By 2018, Canal+ Group’s African portfolio encompassed over 200 TV channels and radio stations; Canal+ Afrique’s platform alone offered more than 50 channels. On May 10, 2024, Canal+ Group acquired a 45.2% stake (200 million shares) in South African subscription service MultiChoice, which boasts around 20 million subscribers and leads markets among English- and Portuguese-speaking African countries. A mandatory takeover bid for the remaining shares is currently underway. The combined Canal+/MultiChoice entity targets reaching approximately 32 million viewers by 2028 while competing mainly against Chinese-owned StarTimes with its estimated audience of 19 million.

After operating for three years, Canal+ Ethiopia discontinued its services at the end of 2024.

In May 2025, South Africa’s Competition Commission recommended conditional approval for Canal+’s complete acquisition of MultiChoice.

Europe

During the 1990s, Canal+ broadened its reach into various European territories; however, by 2016, its operations were limited to France and Poland following the divestiture of several units to companies such as Sky Europe and Movistar. Starting in 2022, Canal+ resumed expanding beyond these core countries by launching streaming services in Austria, Czechia, and Slovakia.

The Nordic region saw Canal+ enter in 1997 through the acquisition of FilmNet channels. This segment was sold in 2003 to Canal Digital, owned by Telenor. The Canal+ brand continued under license until 2012 when the channels transitioned to the C More Entertainment identity.

Poland represents CANAL+ Group's second-largest market, boasting approximately 3 million subscribers.

In 2019, CANAL+ Group acquired M7 Group for €1.1 billion, significantly increasing its presence across Belgium, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Austria, Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania. M7 also focuses on producing European content. The CANAL+ brand is currently active in Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, and the Netherlands. As of 2024, the group owns SPI International—which operates a variety of TV channels and digital platforms worldwide—and holds a 29.33% equity stake in Swedish streaming platform Viaplay.

On 28 February 2023, Canal+ launched streaming platforms in Czechia and Slovakia.

In the Dutch market, FilmNet was rebranded as Canal+ in 1997 but was sold to Liberty Global in 2005. Subsequently, it was renamed Sport1 and Film1 in 2006. Sport1 evolved into Ziggo Sport Totaal by 2015; Film1 was sold to Sony Pictures Television that same year. Although Sony announced plans to shut down Film1 in 2019, it was instead sold to SPI International—fully acquired by Canal+ in August 2023. Canal+ reintroduced itself as a streaming service in the Netherlands on 20 January 2024.

Canal+ Luxembourg (formerly M7 Group) manages several direct-to-home satellite pay-TV platforms including HD Austria (Austria), Télésat (Belgium/Luxembourg), TV Vlaanderen (Flanders), Skylink (Czech Republic/Slovakia), Canal Digitaal (Netherlands), Focus Sat (Romania), and Direct One (Hungary). Additionally, it provides terrestrial pay-TV services in Belgium along with B2B multimedia solutions.

Previous European endeavors include:

  • Canal+ Spain, launched in 1990 by Sogecable and acquired by Telefónica in 2015 before being rebranded as Movistar Plus+.
  • Canal+ Flanders originated from FilmNet; later sold and now operating as Play More under Telenet (Liberty Global).
  • Canal+ Belgique transformed into BeTV following Vivendi’s divestment in 2004.
  • Canal+ Scandinavia began in 1997 from FilmNet channels; eventually sold and renamed C More Entertainment by 2012.
  • Italy’s Tele+ Digitale was sold to News Corp. in 2003 and merged into Sky Italia under Comcast ownership.
  • Premiere Germany was co-founded by Canal+, Bertelsmann, and Kirch; later sold and rebranded as Sky Deutschland under Comcast.

These strategic divestments highlight Canal+'s concentration on core markets while utilizing acquisitions such as M7 Group and SPI International to enhance its pan-European footprint through streaming services and content creation.

Asia-Pacific

In May 2009, K+, a national satellite TV and OTT platform in Vietnam co-founded by Canal+ and Vietnam Television (VTV), commenced operations offering five exclusive premium channels alongside up to 170 SD and HD channels spanning sports, films, entertainment, news, music, and documentaries.

Canal+ Myanmar originated from Forever Group’s launch of 4TV in 2006 and became a joint venture with Canal+ Group in 2017. Since 2018, Canal+ has collaborated with Forever Group to operate the service.

In June 2023, Canal+ formed a partnership with PCCW to broaden the reach of the Viu streaming service throughout Asia and the Middle East; by February 2024, Canal+ had increased its ownership stake to 30%. Additionally, during 2023, Canal+ partnered with Onati Group to distribute content across Polynesia.

French Overseas Territories

The Canal+ Group caters to approximately 800,000 subscribers throughout the French Overseas Territories. Its Canal+ International branches operate within the Caribbean region (Antilles, French Guiana, Haiti), the Indian Ocean area (Réunion, Mayotte, Mauritius), and the Pacific territories (New Caledonia, Wallis and Futuna, French Polynesia)).

Channels in France

  • Canal+ Cinéma(s) – exclusive film channel
  • Canal+ Sport – premium sports broadcasting
  • Canal+ Kids – content for families
  • Canal+ Docs – documentary channel
  • Canal+ Grand Écran
  • Canal+ Foot
  • Canal+ Séries – dedicated to television series
  • Canal+ Sport 360 – sports broadcasts with time delay
  • Canal+ Box Office
  • Canal+ Live – live sports events coverage
  • Canal+ Premier League
  • Ciné+ OCS – a group of six channels focusing on movies and series
  • Comédie+ – comedy programming
  • CStar Hits France – French-language music videos spanning from the 1980s onward
  • Golf+ – specialized golf content
  • Infosport+ – sports news updates
  • Piwi+ – preschool educational shows
  • Planète+ – documentary programming
  • Planète+ Aventure – adventure-themed documentaries
  • Planète+ Crime – crime documentary features
  • Polar+ – crime drama series[2]
  • Seasons – hunting and fishing documentary channel
  • Télétoon+ – animation series for children
  • CNews – free-to-air news broadcasting
  • C8 – general entertainment free-to-air channel
  • CStar – predominantly music-oriented free-to-air channel
  • MyCanal, now CANAL+ – digital platform providing live and on-demand programming for subscribers and free channels alike
  • Canal+ International – premium French channel available in North America featuring Canal+'s content

Other divisions

External links

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named activities
  2. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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