Canal+ has announced a landmark distribution deal with Netflix to offer Netflix content across 24 French-speaking countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. The partnership, which is the first of its kind, is set to begin next month and will give Canal+ subscribers access to a rich selection of Netflix original programming. This move signals a significant strategic shift as two major players in the global media industry collaborate to bring world-class entertainment to a fast-growing market.
With this agreement, Netflix’s popular shows, such as Stranger Things, Money Heist, Squid Game, and Emily in Paris, will become available to Canal+ users across Africa. In addition to global hits, Netflix’s African originals including Blood & Water (South Africa), Blood Sisters (Nigeria), and Young, Famous & African will also be included in the offering.
Pascale Chabert, Chief Content Acquisition Officer at Canal+, said, “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.”
Canal+ is already a dominant force in African pay-TV, operating in 25 countries through 16 subsidiaries, and offering 28 channels designed specifically for African audiences. The company has over 8 million subscribers in the region and is currently working toward acquiring MultiChoice, Africa’s largest pay-TV operator with 19.3 million subscribers across 50 countries.
The partnership with Netflix will further strengthen Canal+’s position as a one-stop destination for premium entertainment, offering both local and international content.
Netflix has long viewed Africa as a key growth region, thanks to its young population and increasing internet penetration. Although the streamer does not publicly break down African subscriber numbers grouping the continent under the broader EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa) region industry experts estimate that Netflix currently has fewer than 5 million users in Africa, mostly concentrated in English-speaking countries such as South Africa, Nigeria, and Kenya.
With this deal, Netflix will significantly expand its reach into French-speaking African markets, where local language preferences and affordability have traditionally posed barriers.
Emma Lloyd, VP of Partnerships EMEA at Netflix, said, “This partnership 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.”
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Netflix and other global streamers invested heavily in African original productions to capture new audiences. However, as financial priorities shifted from subscriber growth to revenue per user, Africa became less of a focus for many companies. For example, Amazon Prime Video has reportedly scaled back its investment in African content.
In contrast, Netflix continues to support local creators, recently releasing South African titles like Kings of Jo’Burg and Fatal Seduction. The Canal+ partnership aligns with Netflix’s ongoing commitment to African storytelling, especially in non-English-speaking regions. This deal marks Netflix’s first major bundling effort in French-speaking Sub-Saharan Africa and builds on similar Canal+ partnerships in France and Poland. For Canal+, it’s another step in creating a “super aggregator” platform that brings together top streaming services for viewers in one place. As Africa’s digital and media infrastructure continues to improve, deals like this one could play a central role in shaping the future of television across the continent.