CANAL+ REACHES A NEW MILESTONE IN ITS FIGHT AGAINST AUDIOVISUAL PIRACY

On March 27, 2026, the Paris Court of Appeal ruled in favor of CANAL+ for the blocking of illegal streaming and IPTV services by alternative DNS providers Google, Cloudflare, and Cisco. This first-of-its-kind decision in France marks a decisive turning point in the protection of the content of the global media and entertainment group, and confirms CANAL+’s pioneering role in the fight against audiovisual piracy.

The Court of Appeal validated the principle of blocking illegal streaming and IPTV services via alternative DNS providers, considering this measure technically feasible and proportionate - an outcome welcomed by the group, which now operates in more than 70 countries.

After securing first instance decisions in 2022 for the blocking of illegal streaming sites by Internet service providers, then in 2024 by alternative DNS providers, followed by CDN, proxy, and VPN services in 2025, these rulings from the Paris Court of Appeal are fully aligned with the Group’s strategy of requiring technical intermediaries of all kinds to take responsibility in the fight against audiovisual piracy.

More than just a victory for CANAL+, these decisions reflect a comprehensive approach that will be further strengthened by the gradual deployment of additional measures, including IP blocking.

ABOUT CANAL+

Founded as a French subscription-TV channel 40 years ago, CANAL+ is now a global media and entertainment company. On 22 September 2025, CANAL+ confirmed it is in effective control of MultiChoice Group and beginning the integration process. MultiChoice is Africa’s leading entertainment platform, offering a wide range of products and services, including DStv, GOtv, M-Net, SuperSport, Irdeto, and KingMakers. Together, the new combined group has 40 million subscribers worldwide, operates in over 70 countries and has approximately 15,000 employees.

CANAL+ operates across the entire audio-visual value chain, including production, broadcast, distribution and aggregation. It is home to STUDIOCANAL, Europe’s leading film and television studio with worldwide production and distribution capabilities; Dailymotion, major international video platform powered by cutting-edge proprietary technology for video delivery, advertising, and monetization; CANAL+ Distribution, a production and distribution company specialising in creating and distributing diverse content and channels; and telecommunication services, through GVA in Africa and CANAL+ Telecom in the French overseas jurisdictions and territories.

CANAL+ also has significant equity stakes in Viaplay (the Pay-TV leader in Scandinavia), Viu (a leading OTT platform in Southern Asia), and UGC, a leading French cinema group.

CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS
Karima Mhoumadi / karima.mhoumadi@canal-plus.com