Overview
- Canal+ announced on Monday that it has signed a five‑year agreement to invest €980 million in French and European films starting in 2028, the largest single pledge the company has made to the sector.
- The pact applies to Canal+, CINÉ+ and OCS and guarantees a six‑month pay‑TV window after theatrical release, preserving an accelerated slot within France’s strict media chronology.
- Beyond money, the agreement requires targeted support for debut and emerging filmmakers, measures to boost diversity, backing for animation and medium‑budget 'films du milieu', and steps to raise film visibility.
- Negotiations for the deal followed months of tension with parts of the film community over the influence of major shareholder Vincent Bolloré, a controversy that included a high‑profile Cannes petition and disputed comments by Canal+ executives.
- The deal changes the bargaining landscape with global streamers by tying earlier access to substantial investment, and it is likely to influence future talks over windows, funding rules and which projects get priority from broadcasters and platforms.