The increased focus of Canal+ on the supply of premium content will eventually lead owners Vivendi to sell the pay-TV operation to rivals Orange, according to Enders Analysis.
Enders says an increase in subscriber erosion combined with the anti-trust ruling over Canal’s planned tie-up with BeIn Sports has led the pay platform to radically restructure its retailing on IPTV – where over 60% of subscriber recruitment takes place.
“Without the scale of other international content producers and in a nationalistic political context, we believe that this market rationale will eventually lead Vivendi to sell Canal+ to Orange,” said Enders in a note to subscribers.
Production includes Versailles, pictured, a drama focussing on the early reign of the Sun King. It has caused controversy in France through not only being in English, but also for using English actors in key parts.
The basic channel package is now available to ISPs at a wholesale price and the premium channel is now included in the upper tier of some triple pay bundles.
This month CanalSat launched a new sub €10 pack. The new CanalSat bouquet, included as part of the Orange fibre offer, is a break from Canal’s traditional pricing, which typically has encompassed larger bundles at higher pricepoints.
Subscribers might otherwise expect to pay €40 for Canal+ itself and another €30 for the CanalSat bouquet.
Enders says the higher volumes should more than compensate for the price cut.
In June, the Autorité de la Concurrence barred Canal from moving forward with an exclusive distribution agreement with beIN sports.
