Canal+ is a French
subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming
Streaming media refers to multimedia delivered through a network for playback using a media player. Media is transferred in a ''stream'' of packets from a server to a client and is rendered in real-time; this contrasts with file downl ...
service and
subscription TV
Pay television, also known as subscription television, premium television or, when referring to an individual service, a premium channel, refers to subscription-based television services, usually provided by multichannel television providers, but ...
provider. The TV provider was established as CanalSatellite in 1992 and later rebranding to CanalSat and the
streaming service
Streaming media refers to multimedia delivered through a network for playback using a media player. Media is transferred in a ''stream'' of packets from a server to a client and is rendered in real-time; this contrasts with file downl ...
was launched as myCanal in 2013. It is a subsidiary of
Canal+ S.A.
Canals or artificial waterways are waterways or engineered channels built for drainage management (e.g. flood control and irrigation) or for conveyancing water transport vehicles (e.g. water taxi). They carry free, calm surface flow u ...
History
CanalSat (pay TV provider)
Digital satellite provider CanalSatellite was launched as a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Groupe Canal+
Canal+ S.A., formerly Groupe Canal+, is a French Media conglomerate, media and telecommunications Conglomerate (company), conglomerate based in Paris. It runs its own Canal+ (streaming service), eponymous Over-the-top media service, over-the-to ...
on 6 December 1991.
[ The shareholders were Canal+ (66 percent) and Lagardère Active (34 percent), a subsidiary of ]Lagardère Lagardère may refer to:
Companies
* Lagardère Group, a French media group
** Lagardère Live Entertainment, an entertainment agency subsidiary
** Lagardère News, the media activities arm
** Lagardère Publishing, the book publishing arm
People
...
. Canal+ began satellite broadcasting
Satellite television is a service that delivers television programming to viewers by relaying it from a communications satellite orbiting the Earth directly to the viewer's location.ITU Radio Regulations, Section IV. Radio Stations and Systems ...
in 1992, to reach parts of France not covered by cable.[
On 23 May 2005, CanalSatellite was renamed Canalsat.]Eurosport
Eurosport is a group of pay television networks in Europe and parts of Asia, owned and operated by Warner Bros. Discovery through its WBD Sports unit, it operates two main channels—Eurosport 1 and Eurosport 2—across most of its territorie ...
, Paris Premiere, or LCI.
On 31 August 2006, after acquiring competitor TPS
TPS or Tps may refer to:
In arts and entertainment
*Télévision Par Satellite, a French satellite television company
*Third-person shooter, a game genre
* Torsonic Polarity Syndrome, in ''South Park'' animation
* Trailer Park Sex, a band from ...
, the two companies were merged within the Canal+ Group.[
On 7 December 2010, both Canal+ channels and the 90 CanalSat channels became available live on Microsoft's ]Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is a home video game console developed by Microsoft. As the successor to the Xbox (console), original Xbox, it is the second console in the Xbox#Consoles, Xbox series. It was officially unveiled on MTV on May 12, 2005, with detail ...
.[
In 2011, the merger with TPS was cancelled by the Competition Authority. Canal+ appealed, and the Authority determined that its authorisation would be conditional on a number of injunctions, including "re-establish ngsufficient competition in the pay television market".
]
2013: launch of myCanal (streaming service)
In December 2013, CanalSat and Canal+
Canals or artificial waterways are waterways or engineered channels built for drainage management (e.g. flood control and irrigation) or for conveyancing water transport vehicles (e.g. water taxi). They carry free, calm surface flo ...
launched their subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service "myCanal".
In September 2015, Vincent Bolloré
Vincent Bolloré (; born 1 April 1952) is a French billionaire businessman. He was the chairman and CEO of the investment group Bolloré until his retirement from the family business in 2022. In January 2025, his net worth was estimated at US$ ...
announced that the service would change its name to simply "Canal". CanalSat adopted the new name on 15 November 2016, accompanied by new offerings, merging with the bouquet ''Les Chaînes Canal+''.
In 2017, Canal lost Discovery
Discovery may refer to:
* Discovery (observation), observing or finding something unknown
* Discovery (fiction), a character's learning something unknown
* Discovery (law), a process in courts of law relating to evidence
Discovery, The Discovery ...
and NBCUniversal
NBCUniversal Media, LLC (abbreviated as NBCU and Trade name, doing business as NBCUniversal or Comcast NBCUniversal since 2013) is an American Multinational corporation, multinational mass media and Show business, entertainment conglomerate (comp ...
channels, recovered by SFR. Canal replaced them by exclusive newly-launched channels: Warner TV
Warner TV is a pay television channel mainly airing in Latin America, Europe, parts of South Asia and Southeast Asia, which is owned by Warner Bros. Discovery through its International unit that focuses on airing American series and films.
Most ...
, Polar+, and Novelas TV.
2019: Canal (formerly CanalSat) and myCanal becomes Canal+
The service was renamed Canal+ on 1 August 2019, unifying its brand across the world. In September 2019, Canal+ offered a new upgrade of its subscription package "Canal+ Ciné Séries" which included Netflix
Netflix is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service. The service primarily distributes original and acquired films and television shows from various genres, and it is available internationally in multiple lang ...
. Disney+
The Walt Disney Company, commonly referred to as simply Disney, is an American multinational mass media and entertainment industry, entertainment conglomerate (company), conglomerate headquartered at the Walt Disney Studios (Burbank), Walt Di ...
was included from its launch on 7 April 2020 for all ''Ciné Séries'' subscribers, and similar upgrades were proposed for Paramount+
Paramount+ (formerly known as CBS All Access in the United States and 10 All Access in Australia) is an American Video on demand#Subscription models, subscription video on-demand Over-the-top media service, over-the-top Streaming media, stream ...
and Max
Max or MAX may refer to:
Animals
* Max (American dog) (1983–2013), at one time purported to be the world's oldest living dog
* Max (British dog), the first pet dog to win the PDSA Order of Merit (animal equivalent of the OBE)
* Max (gorilla) ...
where Canal+ is their main partner in France.
Availability and access
Canal+ is available in:
References
External links
*
Official site for Switzerland
{{DEFAULTSORT:Canal Plus (French Tv Provider)
Direct broadcast satellite services
Subscription video on demand services
Television in France
Canal+