Canal+ has extended its satellite capacity partnership with SES through 2040, reinforcing satellite distribution as a long-term component of its pay-TV operations across Africa, Europe and the Caribbean. The multi-year agreement will maintain access to SES infrastructure across several orbital positions, supporting delivery of premium video and pay-TV services to a subscriber base exceeding 40 million across 70 countries.
Stéphane Baumier, Canal+ chief technology officer, said the relationship with SES had lasted more than 30 years and that the renewed agreement would provide flexibility and reliability as the group expands internationally. Deepak Mathur, president of SES’s Media business, described Canal+ as one of the satellite operator’s longest-standing customers and highlighted satellite’s continuing role in reliable content delivery.
For Africa, the extension provides a longer-term framework for satellite distribution as Canal+ integrates MultiChoice and reshapes its pay-TV offering across individual markets. Satellite remains particularly relevant to direct-to-home television services where terrestrial infrastructure and reliable broadband access may be limited, allowing operators to distribute channel packages over wide geographical areas without relying on each household having a high-capacity internet connection.
The agreement also comes as the wider group works to align its distribution and commercial operations across African markets. Canal+ has been simplifying DStv package structures and pursuing a broader integration of its African pay-TV businesses. Maintaining satellite capacity through 2040 gives the group a long planning horizon for one of its core delivery mechanisms, even as streaming and internet-based distribution continue to develop.
However, the announcement leaves important operational details undisclosed. Neither company has identified the specific satellites or orbital positions covered by the new agreement, the African markets served under its terms, the amount of capacity contracted or the financial value of the deal. Those details should not be inferred from previous SES–Canal+ agreements, which covered different arrangements and timeframes.
The extension is therefore a significant long-term commitment to satellite-based content delivery, rather than evidence that Canal+ will rely exclusively on satellite through 2040. The group can continue developing streaming and hybrid distribution models alongside its satellite services, adapting the mix to local infrastructure, consumer demand and operating costs.
For Africa’s broadcast distribution sector, the agreement reinforces the importance of satellite infrastructure in reaching audiences across diverse markets. Its practical significance will become clearer as further details emerge about capacity allocation and how the arrangement supports Canal+’s evolving African operations.
