Canal+ launching raft of YouTube channels

French premium channel operator Canal+ is launching several new channels on YouTube based on its key programming franchises.

From next month there will be twenty Canal+ YouTube channels based on shows from the core Canal+ channel as well as from its free-to-air counterparts D8, D17 and iTele. There will be channels based on shows including evening talk show Le Grand Journal.

They will be organised under the CanalFactory umbrella brand on YouTube.

Christophe Muller, YouTube’s director of partnerships, southern Europe, Africa and the Middle East said: “We are very excited about this partnership with Canal+ Group, which will allow fans of the flagship programs of the group to find their favourite shows and works directly from the Canal + channels on YouTube . We are delighted to bring this new content to the user of the YouTube community worldwide and contribute to the influence of French audiovisual culture.”

“This agreement with YouTube illustrates our commitment to expand the distribution of our content on the video distribution platforms in order to reach the widest possible audience among those who love our programmes , especially among younger viewers,” added Canal+’s director of new content, Fabienne Fourquet.

The launch announcements come as recent research has shown that French language YouTube partner channels are drawing bigger numbers than their English-language counterparts.