Canal+ ("Canal Plus", "C+" meaning "Channel Plus/More" in French) is a French premium pay television channel launched in 1984. It is owned by the Canal+ Group, which in turn is owned by Vivendi SA. The channel broadcasts several kinds of programming and mostly encrypted, but does broadcast some programs without encryption. The un-encrypted programmes can be viewed free of charge on Canal+ and on satellite on Canal+ Clair (Clear).
[edit] History
After the announcement about the launch of the fourth French television channel Canal+ started broadcasting on November 4, 1984. In 1986, the channel had one million subscribers. It has produced numerous auteur films, including David Lynch's The Straight Story, Mulholland Dr., and Inland Empire.
With the launch of the digital satellite platform Canalsatellite on April 27, 1996, Canal+ received two new sister channels: Canal+ Jaune and Canal+ Bleu.[1] A fourth channel, called Canal+ Vert came along on August 31, 1998. The channels changed their names to Canal+ Décalé, Canal+ Cinéma and Canal+ Sport.
In September 2005, Canal+, Canal+ Cinéma and Canal+ Sport started broadcasting in the French digital terrestrial television network. The free-to-air parts of Canal+ had already been broadcasting for a few months by then. In August 2008, Canal+ started broadcasting the encrypted parts of its main channel in high-definition in the terrestrial network. Canal+ plans to turn off the analogue terrestrial signals by 2010.[2]
[edit] Les Chaînes Canal+
Les Chaînes Canal+[3] is the brand name used for all the Canal+-branded channels in France. Before 2008 it was call Canal+ Le Bouquet.
| Channel |
Launched |
Notes |
Availability |
Format |
Broadcast Hours |
Terrest.
SECAM |
DTT |
Satellite,
IPTV |
Cable |
| Canal+ P&S |
1984 |
Broadcast in Pan and scan. It will stop on 2010 |
4 |
No |
No |
No |
4:3 SDTV |
24 hours |
| Canal+ |
1996 |
previously known as Canal+ 16/9 then as Canal+ Hi-Tech |
No |
No |
4 |
4 |
16:9 SDTV |
24 hours |
| Canal+ HD |
2006 |
|
No |
4 |
182 |
354 |
16:9 HDTV |
24 hours |
| Canal+ Cinéma |
1996 |
A dedicated movie channel, previously known as Canal+ Jaune |
No |
31 |
10 |
402 |
16:9 SDTV |
07:00 - 04:00 |
| Canal+ Sport |
1998 |
A sports channel, previously known as Canal+ Vert |
No |
32 |
11 |
403 |
16:9 SDTV |
07:00 - 04:00 |
| Canal+ Family |
2007 |
A children's channel |
No |
No |
12 |
405 |
16:9 SDTV |
07:00 - 04:00 |
| Canal+ Décalé |
1996 |
Shows repeats of programs shown on Canal+, previously known as Canal+ Bleu |
No |
No |
13 |
401 |
16:9 SDTV |
07:00 - 04:00 |
Those channels are sold as a package on Satellite and DSL TV. On digital terrestrial television, only Canal+, Canal+ Cinéma and Canal+ Sport are available in widescreen with Dolby Digital surround sound.
[edit] European sister channels
As Canal+ was launched in new markets the brand has been used in several countries. When launching additional channels the channels were usually given colour-coded names, such as Canal+ Blue and Canal+ Green. Many of these subsidiaries have been sold, and as of 2007 only the Spanish and Polish Canal+ were partially owned by French Canal+.
- Canal+ Spain, launched in 1990 by Sogecable as an analogue pay channel, similar to the French version. Now part of the Digital+ alliance.
- Canal+ Flanders, became Canal+ when FilmNet was bought. Later sold and is now known as Prime (Telenet, a subsidiary of Liberty Global).
- Canal+ Wallonia, now known as BeTV. It shares many common programs with the French channels (a subsidiary of Liberty Global).
- Canal+ Netherlands, launched as Canal+ after buying the FilmNet channels. In 2006, the channels were the property of Liberty Global Europe and were rebranded as Sport1 and Film1.
- Canal+ Poland, the channel is called Canal+, the satellite platform Cyfra+
- Canal+ Scandinavia, launched as Canal+ in 1997 with the integration of the FilmNet channels. The company was sold and renamed C More Entertainment, although the brand Canal+ was still used. It was purchased by the SBS Broadcasting Group in 2005, which was merged with ProSiebenSat.1 Media in 2007. In 2008, an agreement was made to sell the channels to TV4 Group.
- Tele+ Digitale, the Italian branch sold in 2003 to News Corp. and fused with Stream TV, the direct competitor. Now is called Sky Italia.
- Premiere, a German premium television channel and platform launched in 1990, was founded by Canal +, Bertelsmann and Kirch. A few years later, Canal+ sold its share of Premiere.
[edit] Programmes
[edit] References
[edit] External links
 Television in France |
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