In a significant move poised to reshape the global entertainment landscape, Canal+ and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) have solidified a comprehensive new agreement. This multi-year, multi-territory pact aims to deepen their existing collaboration, prominently featuring an expansion of HBO Max's availability into new markets and the renewal of content distribution across various regions. This strategic alliance underscores both companies' commitment to delivering premium content to a wider international audience.
Global Entertainment Giants Cement Strategic Alliance
On a landmark date, December 31, 2025, at 3:04 AM PT, entertainment powerhouses Canal+ and Warner Bros. Discovery officially announced a far-reaching international partnership. This pivotal agreement, hailed by a joint press release as a "major milestone," will significantly enhance the global reach of their content offerings.
Key to this collaboration is the expanded presence of HBO Max. The premium streaming service, previously distributed by Canal+ in Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania, will now extend its availability to Belgium and Austria, bringing its acclaimed programming to even more European viewers. Beyond HBO Max, the deal also secures the renewal of several popular Warner Bros. Discovery thematic channels. In Romania, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia, audiences can continue to enjoy Cartoon Network, Cartoonito, and CNN International. Additionally, Warner TV's presence in the Czech Republic has been reaffirmed.
The partnership's scope stretches beyond Europe, reinforcing WBD's footprint across Africa. Twelve of WBD's thematic channels, including CNN International, Cartoon Network, Cartoon Network Porto, Cartoonito, Cartoonito Porto, Discovery Channel, Discovery Family, Real Time, ID, TLC, HGTV, Travel, TNT Africa, and Food Network, will see their distribution renewed across various MultiChoice Group territories. This ensures continued access to a diverse array of content, from news and children's programming to lifestyle and documentary channels, for millions of viewers across the continent.
This latest agreement builds upon previous successful collaborations between WBD and the French media conglomerate in 2024. Notably, these past deals included the extension of an exclusive pay-TV window for Warner Bros. Pictures films in France, allowing Canal+ to broadcast these cinematic releases six months after their theatrical debut. Furthermore, HBO Max's integration into select Canal+ group offers had already laid the groundwork for this deeper, more expansive partnership.
The timing of this announcement is particularly pertinent, as it coincides with Netflix's impending acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. This impending merger could further elevate Canal+'s standing as a formidable player on the global stage, given its existing distribution agreements with Netflix. Ted Sarandos, the head of Netflix, recently made a surprise appearance at a Canal+ Group showcase in Paris on December 16, affirming his commitment to upholding existing theatrical release windows for Warner Bros. studio films post-acquisition. During a conversation with Canal+ CEO Maxime Saada, Sarandos stated, "Our intentions when we buy Warner Bros. will be to continue to release Warner Bros. studio movies in theaters with the traditional windows. Then those movies would flow through the Canal+ output deal. That’s very exciting for us." This statement underscores the strategic importance of Canal+ within the evolving global media landscape and highlights the potential for even greater synergy following the Netflix-WBD merger.
This comprehensive alliance between Canal+ and Warner Bros. Discovery represents a significant development in the competitive global streaming and content distribution arena. By expanding HBO Max's reach and renewing key channel distributions, both companies are demonstrating a clear strategy for growth and market penetration. The forward-looking comments from Netflix's leadership further illustrate the intertwined destinies of these entertainment powerhouses, suggesting a future where collaborative agreements and strategic acquisitions continue to shape how audiences worldwide consume media.