⚽️ Canal+ swoops into Belgium

Back in November 2025, Canal+ renewed French broadcast rights to all UEFA club competitions (Champions League, Europa League, Conference League) through 2031, extending beyond their current deal through 2027.

This week, Canal+ went one step further and acquired rights across multiple European markets including Poland, Austria, Switzerland and Belgium, solidifying its position as “the largest broadcaster of UEFA Men’s Club Competitions in Europe” with rights in over 50 countries.

The most surprising move was Belgium, a country where Canal+ hasn’t operated in since they left it back in 2004. According to local sources, this was a complete left field move local operators didn’t expect, even Disney+ (initially announced as the bid winner) saw Canal+ barging in. Belgium shifts from a multi-broadcaster model to Canal+ holding 100% exclusive rights across all three UEFA competitions for 2027-2031.

Earlier this year, Canal+ made key nominations in the Benelux. No doubt that team has been hard at work to win these rights in Belgium and will now work towards a market launch in 2027. I believe Canal+ will use the 2023 relaunch in the Netherlands as the blue print for this Belgian market entry. It’s a streaming first approach mixing live TV channels, sport, movies & series (incl. all the Canal+ original content).

In order to compete with local Pay TV & SVOD players, Canal+ opted for much lower subscription prices (than what we typically see on the French market). Now premium football rights could justify the introduction of a higher priced tier in Belgium.

Now Belgium is not the Netherlands though: two language communities, two media markets. Proximus and Telenet will be must have partners for Canal+. The 2027 launch gives Canal+ roughly one year to build distribution, sign operator deals and localise. That’s tight for a market they haven’t touched in 20 years.

At the European level, Canal+ is attempting what Sky tried and couldn’t pull off: becoming a pan-European Pay TV & SVOD champion. The Champion’s League is definitely the right way to achieve that.