The Canal+ Group has signed a five-year agreement with several professional film organizations. Starting in 2028, the group will allocate a total of €980 million to financing French and European films, rising to nearly €5 billion by the end of 2032.
An unprecedented five-year commitment
The agreement concerns Canal+ and CINÉ+ OCS. It was signed with the Film Industry Liaison Bureau (BLIC), the ARP, and several members of the Film Organizations Liaison Bureau, including the SRF, SPI, UPC, DIRE, SDI, and Animfrance. This five-year term is unprecedented for an agreement of this nature between a broadcaster and the film industry. The amount represents an average investment of €196 million annually between 2028 and 2032. The precise annual breakdown has not yet been detailed. The new commitment will succeed the current agreement, which stipulates a minimum investment of €480 million between 2025 and 2027. Canal+ is to contribute €150 million in 2025, €160 million in 2026, and €170 million in 2027.
Canal+ will retain the broadcast rights for films six months after their release
In exchange for these commitments, Canal+ will be able to continue offering its subscribers French, European, and international films as early as six months after their theatrical release. This early access window is one of the main advantages granted to the group under the French media chronology law. The French system stipulates that broadcasters who invest most heavily in film production can access films more quickly after their theatrical run. Canal+ thus maintains a privileged position compared to streaming platforms that benefit from later release windows.
First films, animation and big-budget works
The €980 million will not be solely dedicated to the most commercially successful productions. The agreement provides for increased support for new filmmakers, debut films, emerging talent, works celebrating diversity, and animated films. Canal+ also commits to supporting mid-range films—productions with budgets falling between small independent projects and blockbusters. These films occupy a central place in the French film industry but regularly encounter greater difficulties in securing financing. Ambitious productions aimed at a broad audience will also continue to receive funding. Furthermore, the agreement includes commitments to enhance the exposure of films and maintain a diversity of genres, aesthetics, and new talent.
Maxime Saada claims a historic investment
The chairman of Canal+'s board of directors, Maxime Saada, presented this agreement as confirmation of the historical link between the pay-TV channel and cinema. : “I am delighted with this new agreement, which illustrates the strength of the bond between Canal+ and cinema. By investing a historic amount of nearly one billion euros, for an unprecedented period of five years, we are very proud to reaffirm our support for the seventh art, its power, its creativity, and its diversity.” The executive also confirmed that subscribers would continue to have access to films six months after their theatrical release: "The best of cinema is on Canal+ six months after its theatrical release and will remain so for many years to come."
Canal+ secures its position as the leading private financier
Since its creation in 1984, Canal+ has made cinema one of the main pillars of its programming and pay-TV offering. The group finances films upstream, notably through the pre-purchase of their broadcasting rights, sometimes even before filming begins. In 2024, it had pre-purchased more than 130 films for approximately €220 million. With €980 million programmed over five years, Canal+ now guarantees producers, writers, directors, distributors, and exhibitors financial visibility until 2032. The group also confirms that it will remain the leading private partner of French and European cinema in the coming years.
