Canal+: the return of the European competitions in mid-2027 reignites the controversy ⚽

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After missing the 2026 World Cup broadcast, Canal+ is trying to win back its African audience. But the announcement that full exclusivity for major European competitions — already partially broadcast by the group — won’t kick in until mid-2027 is reviving subscriber frustration. Beyond the sporting disappointment, this moment points to a deeper shift in the broadcast-rights market, one where technology, streaming platforms, and new players are redrawing the map.

A tech industry in the middle of a shake-up 📡

For years, Canal+ was the reference for pay-TV in French-speaking Africa. With its satellite network and premium content, the group dominated the market by a wide margin. But the broadcast industry has changed fundamentally.

Sports rights are now awarded through increasingly competitive bidding processes, where traditional broadcasters have to go head-to-head with new players capable of investing heavily in digital infrastructure, streaming platforms, and content-distribution technology.

That shift has cost Canal+ dearly: the group lost several major competitions, including the 2026 World Cup. In Cameroon, football fans turned to other broadcasters — CRTV Sports & Entertainment, Canal 2 International, MSI Sports, and New World Sport, which held the main rights on the continent.

Subscribers who expect more 💳

For nearly two and a half years, a share of subscribers have felt they’re no longer getting value for their money.

In Cameroon, the entry-level Accès plan is priced at 5,000 FCFA, with promotional periods sometimes throwing in extra weeks of service depending on the season. Higher tiers range from 10,000 to 25,000 FCFA.

For many customers, the subscription price is harder to justify once the biggest sporting competitions are no longer available on the group’s channels — a frustration that deepened after Canal+’s absence from the 2026 World Cup.

A promised return that isn’t convincing 📺

While some had hoped for a quick return of the big European fixtures, Canal+ announced that full exclusivity for continental competitions — until now limited to the best Wednesday match and the final — won’t take effect until mid-2027, for four seasons through 2031. That means subscribers will have to wait out most of the 2026-2027 season. Reactions on social media were swift.

« You’re already incompetent — expect us back on your decoders only by mid-2027, » one commenter wrote on the company’s Facebook page.

These reactions point to a broader trend: consumers now instantly compare available offers, content libraries, and the digital service quality of different operators.

A fight that goes beyond football 🚀

Canal+’s future in Africa no longer hinges solely on its ability to acquire sports rights. The group now faces a technological shift where broadcast speed, user experience, connected platforms, mobile apps, and multi-screen access matter just as much for subscriber loyalty as the competitions themselves.

In an environment where content flows across multiple devices, broadcasters have to invest as much in technology as in broadcast rights. The move to full exclusivity for European competitions in 2027 could mark a fresh start — provided the digital experience on offer meets the expectations of an audience that has grown far more demanding.

So, can Canal+ still win back African subscribers through technology and the return of European competitions, or has the audience already moved on? Let us know in the comments.