This is very important news in the world of French streaming. Disney announced this Monday that its partnership with Canal+ will end on December 31, 2024. From 2025, Canal+ subscribers will no longer have access to Disney+ content directly from their offer. A hard blow for the aggregation strategy of Canal+, which has until now positioned itself as the essential SVOD hub in France.
Disney+ regains its independence
Since 2019, Canal+ has offered Disney+ in some of its offers, such as the Ciné Séries pack which also includes Netflix. But after 5 years of good and loyal service, Disney decided to regain its independence. “From January 1, 2025, Canal+ customers will no longer be able to watch our new films, nor access Disney+ or our channels via their subscription,” declared the American giant.
To continue to enjoy Disney, Marvel, Pixar, Star Wars and National Geographic content, you will need to subscribe directly to Disney+. A platform that has established itself in just a few years thanks to its strong licenses and quality original productions. This strategic choice is not really a surprise, Disney+ seeking to attract as many live subscribers as possible now that it is well established.
A hard blow for Canal+
On the other hand, it is bad news for Canal+, which is losing a significant partner. In addition to access to Disney+, the French channel has until now benefited from exclusivity on new Disney films, which it could broadcast as a priority after their release on VOD. A definite advantage for attracting and retaining subscribers.
Despite this setback, Canal+ nevertheless remains one step ahead of its competitors thanks to the media chronology. As the leading financier of French cinema, the channel will be able to continue to offer new Disney releases exclusively 17 months after their theatrical release, compared to 36 months for Disney+.
It remains to be seen whether this will be enough to convince streaming fans, now accustomed to consuming Disney content directly from the source. Despite the loss of Disney+, Canal remains very strong in the SVOD market. The French giant is still in partnership with heavyweights in the sector: Netflix, HBO Mac, Paramount+… and it is difficult to imagine a massive exodus of customers who have subscribed to bundled offers after the sole departure of Disney+. Be careful not to multiply these disappointments for Canal.
