Canal+ will bundle Netflix subscriptions in France
Canal+ wants to provide an alternative to the great unbundling of video streaming services. France's leading pay-TV group announced that it will sell Netflix subscriptions starting on October 15.
Instead of having to subscribe to multiple different services, Canal+ hopes that customers are looking for the ability to pay a monthly subscription for multiple services at once. This strategy is somewhat similar to Amazon Prime Video Channels and Apple TV Channels in the U.S.
People who subscribe to Canal+ for a20 per month (or a10 per month if you're under 26) will be able to add a package of movies and TV shows for another a15 per month.
This package contains a standard Netflix subscription that lets you stream content in HD on two devices at once, which usually costs a12 per month in France. In addition to Netflix, you also can access OCS, which includes all HBO content and various live TV channels and on-demand content.
Overall, you get a ton of original content from Canal+, Netflix and HBO for a35 per month. But Canal+ already says that the package that includes Netflix won't cost a15 forever. You can expect a price hike at some point in the coming months.
Canal+ provides its own set-top box and also has distribution deals with all major telecommunications companies in France. But even after launching an over-the-top offering that doesn't require a set-top box, Canal+ has been steadily losing subscribers over the past few years. Netflix says that it currently has 6 million subscribers in France.
Over the past few years, Canal+ has been operating a shift from live TV to on-demand streaming. In addition to its usual TV channels with a mix of live sports, movies and TV shows, you can now stream movies and TV shows from a popular iOS and Android app called myCanal.
Canal+ customers who have a Canal+ set-top box will also be able to add the new package with Netflix. If you're an existing Netflix subscriber, you'll be able to link your Netflix account with your Canal+ account to tell Netflix that you're already paying through Canal+ and stop Netflix billing. It's still unclear whether Netflix content will be available in the myCanal app.