# How the World Cup Boosted Canal+ Results

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/how-the-world-cup-boosted-canal-results/
- Published: 2026-07-28T09:02:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-07-28T11:38:55+00:00
- Original publisher: The Hollywood Reporter
- Original article: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/2026-world-cup-boost-canal-plus-first-half-year-results-1236658014/
- Topics: Africa, Art, Business, Celebrity, Companies, Culture, Entertainment, TV, World

## Key points

- Canal+ first-half results boosted by MultiChoice acquisition and World Cup
- South African subscriber acquisition rose 40%, best June in a decade
- Group revenue up 40% to €4.29bn; StudioCanal also performed strongly

## Summary

Canal+ Group's first-half 2026 results were significantly boosted by its recent $2 billion acquisition of Africa's MultiChoice Group, with the FIFA World Cup helping drive strong subscriber growth at the pay-TV giant's South African operations. CEO Maxime Saada said the increased scale from the deal was already delivering expected benefits, with the company having achieved half of its €250 million synergies target and remaining on track to meet full-year and medium-term guidance.

Canal+ reported that subscriber acquisition in MultiChoice countries rose 40% compared with the first half of 2025, with June marking the best subscriber acquisition month in South Africa in a decade, aided by a World Cup advertising campaign fronted by Idris Elba and the launch of the Novelas+ channel. Total group revenue jumped 40% to €4.29 billion ($4.88 billion), largely thanks to the MultiChoice takeover, though underlying growth excluding the deal was 1.4%; adjusted EBIT rose 68% overall, or 13% excluding MultiChoice. StudioCanal, the group's production arm, also had a strong six months, with box-office hits including Guru and Pressure, and Saada pointed to an upcoming slate featuring Paddington 4, a remake of Escape From New York, and Danny Boyle's Ink.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.