France’s CANAL+ Group Strengthens Ties with Disney

CANNES: CANAL+ Group and Disney Media Distribution have renewed their wide-ranging programming partnership, which includes first-run feature films and SVOD services.

As part of the new pact, starting in January 2016 the French pay-TV operator will be offering Walt Disney Pictures titles, Marvel Studios, Disney/Pixar and Lucasfilm movies. This includes Marvel’s Captain America: Civil War, Walt Disney Pictures’ live-action The Jungle Book and Lucasfilm’s Star Wars: The Force Awakens, along with Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, Star Wars: Attack of the Clones, Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith, Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, the Academy Awards and ABC Studios series.

The SVOD offering CANALPLAY will continue to carry ABC Studios on demand, which includes popular series Grey’s Anatomy, Lost, Desperate Housewives and Castle, which viewers can access as complete box sets. Disney Movies on Demand gives viewers access to animated and live-action Disney classics and Disney/Pixar titles such as Cinderella and Robin Hood, Cars, Monsters, Inc. and Toy Story.

Astrid Barbot, the general manager of Disney Media Distribution France, said: “This agreement starts a new chapter in our relationship with the CANAL+ Group. We are sure CANAL+ audiences in France will thoroughly enjoy a greater variety of Disney’s much-loved characters and gripping, emotive storytelling wherever, however and whenever they wish, across a portfolio of programming that includes a fantastic slate of feature films and television series.”

Didier Lupfer, the head of films at CANAL+ Group, said: “We are proud to renew our agreement with Disney, both for CANAL+ and CANALPLAY. We will be able to offer our subscribers some of our greatest productions from the prestigious Disney studios, which also include films from Marvel Studios, Disney/Pixar and Lucasfilm, starting with the highly anticipated Star Wars: The Force Awakens.”