French media conglomerate CANAL+ and streaming giant Netflix have extended their strategic partnership, initially established in France and Poland in 2019, to include 24 Francophone African countries. Starting in July, CANAL+ will become the first operator to distribute Netflix as part of its offerings in Sub-Saharan Africa, allowing subscribers to access Netflix content directly through their CANAL+ subscriptions. This move streamlines the user experience and significantly expands content accessibility across the region.
Pascale Chabert, Chief Content Acquisition Officer of CANAL+, emphasised the significance of this development, stating, “A few years after our distribution agreement in France and Poland, I am delighted to extend our historic partnership with Netflix to Africa. Our millions of African subscribers will benefit from a unique offer, bringing together the best of CANAL+ and Netflix content in a joint package. This new agreement demonstrates CANAL+’s ability to extend its unique super-aggregation model beyond the European continent.” This partnership positions CANAL+ as a leading content aggregator on the continent, enhancing its portfolio with Netflix’s globally acclaimed series like Stranger Things, La Casa de Papel, and Lupin, alongside African productions such as Blood & Water, Young Famous and African, Unseen, King of Boys, Anikulapo, Blood Sisters, and Kings of Joburg.
For Netflix, this partnership provides a strategic avenue to deepen its penetration into the African market, particularly in Francophone regions where its presence has been limited compared to English-speaking countries like South Africa, Nigeria, and Kenya. Despite economic challenges and recent subscription price hikes in some African markets, Netflix continues to invest heavily in African content, having allocated $175 million across the continent between 2016 and 2022, with South Africa receiving the largest share. Collaborations with African creators, such as Nigeria’s Kunle Afolayan and Mo Abudu, have produced original content that resonates both locally and globally.
Emma Lloyd, Vice President Partnerships EMEA at Netflix, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, noting, “We’re thrilled about this extension of our partnership with CANAL+, which will allow us to reach even more people across French-speaking African countries. It’s a big win for entertainment fans and part of our ongoing mission to make the member experience even better.” This collaboration marks Netflix’s first major bundling effort in Francophone Sub-Saharan Africa, leveraging CANAL+’s extensive infrastructure and 8 million subscribers to bypass logistical challenges like content licensing and regulatory hurdles.
CANAL+ already operates a robust platform with over 400 live channels, including 28 tailored specifically for African audiences, and a strong digital presence through its application and connected set-top boxes. The addition of Netflix’s content enhances CANAL+’s role as a premier content aggregator, aligning with its broader strategy to consolidate its presence in Africa. This includes recent moves like acquiring a stake in Senegal’s Marodi TV and pursuing the acquisition of MultiChoice, the continent’s largest pay-TV operator with 19.3 million subscribers across 50 countries.
The partnership reflects the growing prominence of Africa in the global streaming landscape, driven by increasing internet penetration and a youthful population. With the African streaming market projected to grow at 15% annually until 2030, this alliance positions both CANAL+ and Netflix to capitalise on the continent’s surging demand for digital entertainment. As competition intensifies with new entrants like MTN’s upcoming streaming platform, the CANAL+-Netflix collaboration underscores a strategic effort to meet the evolving entertainment needs of African audiences by offering a seamless blend of global and local content.
