Canal+ Launches Sport+ Free Sports Platform in France

In Short

CANAL+ is launching SPORT+, a free digital sports platform, on October 9 in mainland France. It is available inside the CANAL+ App and open to both subscribers and non-subscribers.

What Happened

CANAL+ said SPORT+ will be a new, free way to follow sports news and key moments on mobile.

The platform lives directly inside the CANAL+ app, which means users do not need to download a separate product. CANAL+ is positioning SPORT+ as a daily destination for short sports formats, including highlights and vertical short videos (quick, phone-first clips similar to social video).

SPORT+ will also include a selection of free matches. It will cover nine competitions where CANAL+ holds broadcast rights, including the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League, the Premier League, Formula 1, MotoGP, and French rugby competitions TOP 14 and PRO D2, plus Arkema Première Ligue.

CANAL+ is also adding product features aimed at live viewing. These include Multi-Live SPORT+, which lets users follow multiple matches live at the same time, and an “anti-spoiler” mode to help avoid seeing results before watching.

The first major event highlighted for the platform is the Singapore Formula 1 Grand Prix on October 11.

Why It Matters

Free sports highlights are a major user acquisition channel for paid sports broadcasters. SPORT+ gives CANAL+ a way to reach fans who do not currently pay for its sports packages, then push them toward subscriptions over time.

For African founders and operators watching streaming strategy, the move is a reminder that the funnel is shifting. Short video, selective free live games, and in-app discovery features are increasingly used to build habit and reduce churn.

It also puts more pressure on sports rights holders and broadcasters to package content for mobile viewing, not just full-match streaming.