Comédie+
A French pay-television channel focused on comedy and humorous entertainment.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Comédie+ is a French pay-television channel devoted primarily to comedy, humour and entertainment programming. It began broadcasting as Comédie! on 29 November 1997 through Canal Satellite and subsequently became available on cable platforms. The channel was created as a specialist outlet for humorous programming and was named in memory of Bruno Carette, the comedian and actor associated with the Les Nuls troupe who died in 1989. A major part of the channel's early identity came from original and hosted comedy programming rather than from a purely library-based schedule. Its daily programme La Grosse Émission became an important platform for emerging performers and helped bring wider attention to the comedy troupe Les Robins des Bois. The programme also featured or helped popularize personalities including Cyril Hanouna, Kad Merad, and Olivier Baroux. La Grosse Émission originally ran until June 2002 before returning in a later revival during 2015 and 2016. A related prime-time programme, La Très Grosse Émission, was broadcast on Canal+ in 2016. The channel changed ownership and editorial direction during the early 2000s. Pathé acquired Comédie! in 2003 and reformatted it as a broader, mini-generalist channel centered on laughter and humour. From 20 September 2003, its schedule expanded to begin at 8 a.m. every day. After Pathé withdrew from television, the channel was sold at the end of 2004 to multiThématiques, a Canal+ Group subsidiary, bringing it into the Canal+ channel portfolio. The brand later adopted the Comédie+ name. Comédie+ has also been shaped by distribution and technology changes. It was selected in 2005 for a proposed French pay-DTT arrangement shared with Cuisine TV, but that authorization was subsequently canceled. On 1 July 2015, the channel moved to high-definition broadcasting as CanalSat completed its transition to MPEG-4 and HD. Distribution arrangements changed again in 2016 when Comédie+ was removed from Numericable's cable offering, along with several other Canal+ channels, following changes to exclusivity exemptions connected with SFR's fiber and television services. Canal+ bouquets later became available through SFR's cable and fiber television platform from March 2019. The Comédie+ brand remains associated with Canal+'s French pay-television ecosystem and with a programming mix built around comedy shows, stand-up, humorous series, films, reruns and original entertainment. Canal+ also used the Comédie concept in an African-market premium humour channel launched in 2018 on Canal+ Afrique, although that service was later replaced by Canal+ Pop in September 2021. The French Comédie+ channel is distinct from that regional initiative.
History
Comédie+ began as Comédie! on 29 November 1997, launching on Canal Satellite before becoming available through cable distribution. The channel was conceived as a French pay-television service dedicated to comedy and humour. Its name commemorated Bruno Carette, an actor and comedian linked to Les Nuls who had died in 1989. The channel's early development was closely tied to original entertainment. Its daily programme La Grosse Émission became a notable showcase for comedians and helped establish Les Robins des Bois, while also featuring personalities such as Cyril Hanouna, Kad Merad and Olivier Baroux. The programme ran until June 2002. It was later revived in 2015–2016, and Canal+ broadcast the related prime-time La Très Grosse Émission in 2016. In 2003, Pathé acquired Comédie! and altered its format, broadening the channel into a mini-generalist service built around laughter and humour. Its broadcast day was extended to begin at 8 a.m. every day from 20 September 2003. Pathé subsequently withdrew from television and sold the channel at the end of 2004 to multiThématiques, a subsidiary of Groupe Canal+. The channel later operated under the Comédie+ name within the Canal+ portfolio. Comédie+ participated in several important changes in French television distribution. It was selected in 2005 for a proposed pay digital-terrestrial television arrangement shared with Cuisine TV, but the authorization was canceled shortly afterwards. On 1 July 2015, it adopted HD broadcasting as CanalSat completed its MPEG-4 transition. On 1 July 2016, Numericable removed Comédie+ and several other Canal+ channels after the channels lost an exclusivity exemption associated with the introduction of SFR fiber television offers. Canal+ bouquets subsequently became available on SFR's cable and fiber platform from 19 March 2019. The brand has also been used for a related Canal+ Afrique initiative. In August 2018, Canal+ launched a premium humour channel for the African market on channel 5 of Canal+ Afrique. That service was replaced by Canal+ Pop on 30 September 2021 and should not be confused with the main French Comédie+ channel. Comédie+ continues to represent Canal+'s French comedy-focused pay-television proposition, with programming centered on humorous shows, comedy series, films, performances and original entertainment.
- 2021
African service replaced
[1]The Canal+ Afrique humour service is replaced by Canal+ Pop on 30 September.
- 2018
African-market humour channel launches
[1]Canal+ launches a premium Comédie-branded humour channel for Canal+ Afrique.
- 2016
Distribution changes on Numericable
[1]Numericable removes Comédie+ from its line-up on 1 July amid changes to Canal+ channel exclusivity arrangements.
- 2015
HD transition
[1]Comédie+ switches to HD on 1 July as CanalSat transitions to MPEG-4 and high-definition distribution.
- 2005
Proposed pay-DTT participation is canceled
[1]Comédie! is selected for a proposed pay digital-terrestrial television service shared with Cuisine TV, but the authorization is later canceled.
- 2004
Sale to multiThématiques
[1]Pathé sells the channel to multiThématiques, bringing it into the Canal+ corporate structure.
- 2003
Pathé acquisition and reformat
[1]Pathé acquires the channel and broadens its editorial format into a mini-generalist humour service.
- 2002
La Grosse Émission ends its initial run
[1]The channel's influential daily comedy programme concludes its first run in June.
- 1997
Comédie! launches
[1]The channel begins broadcasting on 29 November through Canal Satellite and later expands to cable.
Products and positioning
A specialist French pay-television channel positioned around comedy, humour and entertainment, combining original productions with comedy series, films, performances and reruns.
Pay television channel · 1997
Comédie+ channel
The core French pay-television service, focused on comedy, humour and entertainment. Its schedule combines original and hosted programmes with comedy series, films, performances and repeat programming distributed through Canal+ and partner platforms.
Comedy television programme
La Grosse Émission
A daily comedy programme that formed a major part of the channel's early identity. Its initial run lasted until 2002 and it helped expose Les Robins des Bois and several later-known television and film personalities to a broader audience. The format returned for a 2015–2016 revival.
Prime-time comedy programme · 2016
La Très Grosse Émission
A prime-time extension of the La Grosse Émission concept broadcast on Canal+ in 2016, reflecting the channel's role in developing and distributing original humour-oriented entertainment.
Brand decisions
2016
Distribution changes following exclusivity adjustmentsStrategyBackground
Canal+ channels lost an exclusivity exemption after the launch of SFR fiber offers incorporating Numericable television services.
Action taken
Numericable removed Comédie+ from its line-up on 1 July 2016.
Aftermath
Canal+ bouquets later became available on SFR's cable and fiber television platform from 19 March 2019.
2015
Migration to HDGeneration changeBackground
CanalSat was completing a technical transition to MPEG-4 and high-definition distribution.
Action taken
Comédie+ switched to HD on 1 July 2015.
Aftermath
The channel became part of CanalSat's high-definition service configuration.
2004
Sale to multiThématiquesM&ABackground
Pathé withdrew from television after its period of ownership.
Action taken
The channel was sold to multiThématiques, a subsidiary of Groupe Canal+.
Aftermath
Comédie! became part of the Canal+ channel portfolio and subsequently operated under the Comédie+ branding.
2003
Pathé broadens the channel's formatStrategyBackground
After acquiring Comédie!, Pathé sought to reposition the specialist comedy outlet as a broader mini-generalist channel.
Action taken
The schedule and editorial proposition were expanded around a wider range of laughter and humour programming, with the broadcast day beginning at 8 a.m. from 20 September 2003.
Aftermath
Pathé later exited television and sold the channel to multiThématiques at the end of 2004.
Sources1 sources
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