Séries Plus
A Canadian French-language specialty television channel focused on scripted drama and comedy series.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
Séries Plus is a Canadian French-language specialty television channel devoted primarily to scripted dramatic and comedic programming. It serves francophone audiences in Canada and operates as a focused programming service rather than as a general-interest broadcast network. Its schedule has historically combined French-language productions with dubbed or otherwise localized international series, giving viewers access to serialized drama, comedy, crime, procedural, and other fiction formats. The service originated in a regulatory approval granted on May 11, 1999, when the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission approved applications from Alliance Atlantis Communications and Premier Choix Networks, a division of Astral Media, for a French-language subscription service then proposed under the name Canal Fiction. The proposed channel was described as a service centered on drama. It launched on January 31, 2000, under the Séries+ name, beginning operations at 6 p.m. Eastern Time. A major technical development followed on October 30, 2006, when Séries+ introduced a high-definition simulcast. This allowed the channel to distribute its existing programming in a higher-resolution presentation as Canadian specialty television increasingly transitioned toward HD delivery. The channel's ownership changed several times during the consolidation of Canada's media sector. In January 2008, Canwest and Goldman Sachs Alternatives, through the joint venture CW Media, acquired Alliance Atlantis Communications and consequently obtained Alliance Atlantis's interest in Séries+. After Shaw Communications completed its acquisition of Canwest and Goldman Sachs' interest in CW Media in October 2010, Shaw controlled that 50 percent stake. Astral Media remained the other principal shareholder until the subsequent restructuring of Astral's assets. In 2013, Corus Entertainment announced transactions to acquire Astral Media's interests in Séries+ and the related channel Historia, as well as Shaw's interests. These transactions were connected to the regulatory restructuring surrounding Bell Media's proposed acquisition of Astral Media. The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission approved the transactions on December 20, 2013, and Corus became the channel's full owner on January 1, 2014. Corus later treated Séries+ and Historia as assets outside its strategic priorities. On October 17, 2017, Bell Media announced an agreement in principle to acquire both channels from Corus for $200 million, subject to regulatory clearance. The Competition Bureau blocked the proposed transactions on May 28, 2018, because the deal would have conflicted with a condition attached to Bell's earlier acquisition of Astral Media that prevented Bell from reacquiring divested properties for ten years. Bell and Corus subsequently abandoned the sale. On January 6, 2020, the channel was rebranded and began styling its name as SériesPlus. The rebrand preserved the service's core identity as a French-language destination for scripted television while updating its visual and written presentation. Séries Plus remains part of Corus Entertainment's Canadian specialty-channel portfolio.
History
Séries Plus was created during a period when Canada's specialty television sector was expanding its language-specific and genre-focused services. On May 11, 1999, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission approved applications from Alliance Atlantis Communications and Premier Choix Networks, an Astral Media division, for a French-language subscription network called Canal Fiction. The proposed service was intended to concentrate on drama programming. The channel launched on January 31, 2000, at 6 p.m. Eastern Time under the Séries+ name. From the outset, its identity was built around French-language scripted television, with drama and comedy forming the central programming categories. The service was distinct from a broad general-entertainment network because its brand promise centered on fictional series and serialized storytelling. On October 30, 2006, Séries+ added a high-definition simulcast. The change reflected the wider migration of Canadian television distribution and production toward HD delivery and gave the channel a technical equivalent of its standard-definition service for compatible television systems. Ownership subsequently shifted as major Canadian media companies consolidated their assets. In January 2008, Canwest and Goldman Sachs Alternatives acquired Alliance Atlantis Communications through the CW Media joint venture. The transaction transferred Alliance Atlantis's interest in Séries+ to CW Media. In October 2010, Shaw Communications completed its acquisition of Canwest and Goldman Sachs' interest in CW Media, thereby gaining control of the 50 percent share previously held through that structure. The next major change followed the proposed restructuring of Astral Media. In March 2013, Corus Entertainment announced plans to acquire Astral's stakes in Séries+ and Historia, together with Shaw's interests in the two channels through separate transactions. The deals were connected to Bell Media's proposed acquisition of Astral Media. Bell's earlier proposal had been rejected by the CRTC in October 2012 over concerns about market concentration, but a restructured transaction was pursued with requirements that certain media properties be divested. The CRTC approved the Corus-related transactions on December 20, 2013. Corus completed the ownership transition and became the full owner of Séries+ on January 1, 2014. Corus later reassessed the strategic role of the two channels. On October 17, 2017, Bell Media announced its intention to buy Séries+ and Historia from Corus for $200 million. Corus indicated that the channels were not then among its strategic priorities, and the proposal followed an announcement that Corus would no longer commission original programs for the two services. The proposed sale faced a regulatory obstacle because a condition tied to Bell's acquisition of Astral Media prohibited Bell from reacquiring certain divested properties for ten years. On May 28, 2018, the Competition Bureau blocked the transactions. Bell and Corus then mutually agreed not to proceed with the sale. Séries+ was rebranded on January 6, 2020, with the channel adopting the SériesPlus styling. The rebrand updated the presentation of the service while retaining its long-standing role as a Canadian French-language destination for scripted comedy and drama. Corus Entertainment remains the channel's owner, and the service continues to operate in the Canadian market.
- 2020
SériesPlus rebrand
[1]The service adopted the SériesPlus styling as part of a channel rebrand on January 6.
- 2018
Proposed Bell sale is blocked
[1]The Competition Bureau blocked Bell Media's proposed acquisition of Séries+ and Historia, and the parties abandoned the transaction.
- 2014
Corus becomes full owner
[1]After the CRTC approved the relevant transactions in December 2013, Corus Entertainment completed the acquisition of the channel's remaining interests on January 1, 2014.
- 2010
Shaw gains control of the CW Media stake
[1]Shaw Communications completed its acquisition of Canwest and Goldman Sachs' interest in CW Media, including control of its Séries+ share.
- 2008
CW Media acquires Alliance Atlantis
[1]Canwest and Goldman Sachs Alternatives acquired Alliance Atlantis through CW Media, obtaining Alliance Atlantis's interest in Séries+.
- 2006
High-definition simulcast launched
[1]Séries+ introduced an HD simulcast of its channel on October 30.
- 2000
Séries+ begins broadcasting
[1]The channel launched on January 31 under the Séries+ name, beginning service at 6 p.m. Eastern Time.
- 1999
Regulatory approval for Canal Fiction
[1]The CRTC approved applications from Alliance Atlantis Communications and Premier Choix Networks for a French-language subscription service devoted to drama.
Products and positioning
A French-language Canadian specialty channel positioned as a destination for scripted drama and comedy, including locally produced, acquired, and localized international series.
French-language specialty television · 2000
Séries Plus linear channel
The core Séries Plus offering is a Canadian specialty television channel focused on scripted fiction. Its programming identity is built around French-language drama and comedy series, along with localized international fiction. The service is distributed to Canadian television audiences and has historically been available in both standard-definition and high-definition forms.
High-definition television service · 2006
Séries Plus HD simulcast
The HD simulcast, introduced in 2006, extended the channel's standard programming feed into high-definition distribution. It represented a technical version of the main Séries+ service rather than a separate programming brand.
Marketing campaigns
- 2020SériesPlus channel rebrand
Canada
Séries+ refreshed its channel identity and began using the SériesPlus styling on January 6, 2020.
Outcome. The rebrand updated the service's presentation while retaining its focus on French-language scripted programming.
Brand decisions
2020
SériesPlus brand refreshStrategyBackground
The channel updated its market presentation after two decades operating under the Séries+ identity.
Action taken
The service adopted the SériesPlus styling as part of a rebrand launched on January 6, 2020.
Aftermath
The service continued operating as a French-language scripted-programming channel under Corus ownership.
2017
Proposed sale to Bell MediaM&ABackground
Corus identified Séries+ and Historia as outside its strategic priorities and announced that it would no longer commission original programs for the two channels.
Action taken
Bell Media announced its intention to acquire both channels from Corus for $200 million, subject to regulatory approval.
Aftermath
The Competition Bureau blocked the transaction in May 2018 because of restrictions connected to Bell's earlier acquisition of Astral Media. Bell and Corus mutually shelved the sale.
Proposed acquisition price. (2017 proposed transaction)
2014
Corus consolidates ownership of Séries+M&ABackground
The restructuring of Astral Media's assets required certain properties to be divested in connection with Bell Media's proposed acquisition of Astral.
Action taken
Corus Entertainment acquired the relevant Astral and Shaw interests and became the full owner of Séries+ on January 1, 2014.
Aftermath
Séries+ became part of Corus Entertainment's wholly owned specialty-channel portfolio.
2006
Launch of an HD simulcastOtherBackground
Canadian television distribution was increasingly adopting high-definition delivery, creating pressure for specialty channels to provide HD versions of their services.
Action taken
Séries+ launched a high-definition simulcast on October 30, 2006.
Aftermath
The channel expanded its technical distribution without changing its core scripted-programming positioning.
Sources2 sources
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