In an interview given to Le Figaro on Saturday, the chairman of the board of Canal+ Maxime Saada took stock of the situation and the activity of the group as this Monday, the latter makes its debut on the London Stock Exchange. “We will measure the success of this introduction within two to three years,” he announces, posing today as a “super-aggregator”, thus referring to the group’s agreements with Netflix, Apple TV , Paramount+ or even Max. A strategy “that we will continue and amplify”. With the ambition of reaching “50 to 100 million subscribers in the coming years” (compared to 27 million in more than 50 countries currently), the manager emphasizes that “Canal+ is no longer geographically dependent on France, nor on specific content, like Ligue 1 in the past.” For him, the center of gravity of his group “has moved internationally (…) The English language will take on more importance” within it. He also highlights the fact that Canal+ “is a French champion and potentially a world champion”, being “the only ones (…) who can claim to compete with the major American platforms, even humbly”. But for him, “nothing is being done to help us”.
He thus points out, pell-mell, the tax paid to the CNC which increased by “several tens of millions”, the choice of ARCOM to exclude C8 from DTT or even the investigation launched by the Competition Authority on the broadcasting and acquisition of cinematographic works in the pay television sector, while the “agreements with the sector fall in December” and that “not knowing the grievances of the Competition Authority, we are difficult to sign a new contract,” notes Mr. Saada. Concerning the fact of seeing its VAT rate increase from 10 to 20%, the chairman of the board expressed his incomprehension: “the regulation that is imposed on us is that of linear television. And they would like to impose the same VAT rate on us as the platforms.” But, he says, “we are trying to find common ground. If we fail to do so, we may consider litigation.” Finally, on the consequences of the withdrawal of C8 from TNT which notably leads to the implementation of a departure plan for 250 employees, and the announcement of the withdrawal of 4 of its pay channels (Canal+, Canal+ Cinéma, Canal+ Sport and Planet), Maxime Saada justifies himself: “what is the point of staying on TNT, assuming all the obligations and costs attached to it, when we can take away an asset like C8 via a decision incomprehensible? Our advertising network is therefore very weakened (…) Unfortunately, we have no choice. The timing of this plan is linked to this decision, and in no way to our IPO. Canal+ must continue to gain in agility and flexibility. Leaving TNT gives us room to maneuver.” In any case, the Canal+ group nevertheless intends to continue its collaboration with its star host Cyril Hanouna: “We are discussing it. No project has yet been finalized, but we want to continue the story with him.”
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