(Ecofin Agency) - Four new Canal+ channels have been broadcasting in sub-Saharan Africa since 21 July 2015. They are channels exclusively dedicated to sports: Canal+ Sport 1, Canal+ Sport 2, Canal+ Sport 3 and Canal+ Sport 4. “These four channels will benefit from the acquisition of many new sports broadcasting rights in all major sports”, indicated the press release from the Canal+ group, subsidiary of the French giant Vivendi, specialising in communication and entertainment.

Canal+ is promising its sub-Saharan customers sporting events for which it holds broadcasting rights, including the French football championship Ligue 1, UEFA Champions League, football Euro 2016, world Formula 1 championship, French rugby championship (Top 14) or the tennis tournaments of Wimbledon and Roland Garros. The sports television magazine shows will not be left behind, including “Canal Football Club”, “Canal Champions Club” or “Talents d’Afrique”.

This new offer is rounded off with movies and series “in connection with the current news and realities of the African continent”, explained Canal+. This will be part of the 600 new movies package that the French group wants to offer on a yearly basis.

Canal+ has made Africa a priority market as it is a source of growth. In 2 years, the number of subscriptions has doubled, to reach 1.5 million at the end of 2014. It is no coincidence that Canal+ launched 25 new channels, some of which are focused on Africa. Amongst them are Novelas TV, the telenovelas channel, Edan which offers cosmopolitan and urban entertainment or Gulli Africa, the first youth channel created for Africa.

Canal+ is deploying a cross-sectioning and coverage strategy in Africa where it has finally accepted to enter into partnerships with the local cable contents providers for the distribution of its channels, but excluding competitors such as BeInSports channels or Super Sport from the South African operator DStv.