Canal+ Séries
A French pay television channel dedicated primarily to television series.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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History
Canal+ Séries emerged from Canal+ Group’s effort to organize its subscription television portfolio around distinct thematic services. In June 2013, the group announced the creation of a new channel devoted to series for launch at the beginning of the 2013–14 television season. Rather than being introduced solely as an additional premium channel requiring a separate fee, it was integrated into Canal+ channel services and made available without an extra charge to the relevant Canal+ customer base. The channel was designed around the growing importance of serialized television drama and comedy in international pay television. Its schedule emphasized imported programs, including shows broadcast only a few days after their American transmission. These programs could be shown in English with French subtitles, reflecting a near-simultaneous international-release model, or in French-dubbed versions. Canal+ Séries also carried French series and repeated programs that had previously been shown on other Canal+ services. This combination gave the channel both an acquisition function for international series and a catalogue function within the wider Canal+ brand family. Canal+ Séries was a subscription service and did not broadcast advertising. It formed part of the Les Chaînes Canal+ offering and was associated with the Ciné-Séries package. Its identity was therefore tied to Canal+’s broader premium television proposition rather than to a standalone free-to-air network. The channel’s programming included titles such as Suburgatory and The Returned, as well as other series circulating through the Canal+ ecosystem. The availability of HBO content on the channel was affected by changes in the French television rights market. Canal+ Séries could broadcast reruns of HBO series, but OCS held an exclusive HBO arrangement. In 2017, that arrangement became stricter, giving OCS complete exclusivity over HBO programming and limiting the role of Canal+ Séries as a destination for such content. A regional African version of Canal+ Séries also existed. On 15 October 2019, that version was replaced by Canal+ Elles, demonstrating that Canal+ adjusted the naming and editorial structure of its services by market. The African service should be treated as a regional iteration of the Canal+ Séries concept rather than as evidence that the French channel itself had been renamed. The channel later entered a wind-down phase. Reference material states that it was expected to cease broadcasting on 13 October 2025, with that date subsequently postponed to 1 December 2025. Since the available material does not confirm whether the final closure occurred as scheduled, Canal+ Séries is recorded here with an unknown current status. Its documented history is that of a French, advertising-free, subscription channel created to provide a dedicated home for international and French television series within the Canal+ package structure.
- 2025
Planned end of broadcasting postponed
[1]The expected cessation of broadcasting was moved from 13 October to 1 December 2025.
- 2019
African version replaced by Canal+ Elles
[1]The African version of Canal+ Séries was replaced by Canal+ Elles on 15 October.
- 2017
HBO rights environment becomes more restrictive
[1]OCS’s HBO agreement became stricter and provided complete exclusivity to OCS, affecting Canal+ Séries’ access to HBO programming and leaving the channel primarily with rerun availability.
- 2013
Canal+ Séries announced
[1]Canal+ Group announced the creation of a new series-focused channel for the start of the 2013–14 television season, integrated into Canal+ services.
Products and positioning
A non-advertising, subscription-based television channel positioned within Canal+’s premium thematic channel portfolio and focused on international and French scripted series.
Pay television channel · 2013
Canal+ Séries
A French subscription television channel devoted to scripted series. It combined imported programs, often shown close to their American broadcasts, with French-subtitled, French-dubbed and French-language programming. The channel also repeated series from other Canal+ services and operated without advertising.
Regional pay television channel
Canal+ Séries Africa
An African version of the Canal+ Séries service. It was later replaced by Canal+ Elles on 15 October 2019, ending its operation under the Canal+ Séries name.
Brand decisions
2025
Wind down the channelStrategyBackground
The channel was scheduled to leave the Canal+ television lineup.
Action taken
Broadcast cessation was initially expected on 13 October 2025 and was later postponed to 1 December 2025.
Aftermath
The available reference does not confirm the final outcome after the postponed date.
2019
Replace the African service with Canal+ EllesStrategyBackground
Canal+ adjusted its African channel portfolio and regional brand positioning.
Action taken
The African version of Canal+ Séries was replaced by Canal+ Elles on 15 October 2019.
Aftermath
The African iteration ceased operating under the Canal+ Séries name.
2013
Launch a dedicated series channel within Canal+ servicesProduct launchBackground
Canal+ Group sought to create a dedicated destination for international and French television series while keeping the service within the existing Canal+ subscription structure.
Action taken
The group announced Canal+ Séries for the beginning of the 2013–14 season and integrated it into Canal+ channel services without an additional charge for relevant subscribers.
Aftermath
The channel became part of the Les Chaînes Canal+ and Ciné-Séries package ecosystem.
Recent events
- 2025
Planned closure date postponed[1]
Other
The channel was expected to stop broadcasting on 13 October 2025, but the planned cessation was postponed to 1 December 2025.
- 2019
African version replaced by Canal+ Elles[1]
Other
The African version of Canal+ Séries was replaced by Canal+ Elles on 15 October 2019.
- 2013
Canal+ Group announces the creation of Canal+ Séries[1]
Product launch
Canal+ Group announced a new series-focused channel for the start of the 2013–14 television season. The service was to be integrated into Canal+ channel services and offered without an additional charge to relevant subscribers.
Sources2 sources
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