France’s Pay-TV Service Canal+ Inks Netflix
September 19, 2019
If you can’t beat them, join them.
More than a year after Canal+ Group CEO Maxine Saada blamed Netflix and Amazon Prime Video for undermining a branded subscription streaming video service, Canal Play, the pay-TV operator has signed up Netflix.
Canal+ will begin offering subscribers direct access to the SVOD behemoth beginning Oct. 15 with single €35 monthly fee, which includes €20 for pay-TV and €15 for movies and TV shows from Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and HBO.
Canal+ warns that the loss-leading €15 surcharge is to lure subs and won’t last forever, which means a future price hike.
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“Netflix is the global reference in the industry with world-acclaimed shows,” Said said in a statement. “This offer complements our all-round offer of first-run movies, major live sports events, world-class series, including our Créations Originales. It also helps us further consolidate our position as a key aggregator of content and services.”
For Netflix, which already has more than 6 million French subs after a sluggish start, the partnership underscores original content possibilities.
“Great stories can come from anywhere and be loved everywhere – and we’re committed to helping more people access a diverse range of content from creators all around the world both on Netflix and through our partnership with Canal+,” said Netflix CEO Reed Hastings.