Canal+ Announces Plans To Deploy OpenAI To Its Streaming App, Forms Partnership With Google Cloud

Enhanced Canal+ App Experience With OpenAI Technology

Starting June 2026, CANAL+ will roll out a major evolution of the CANAL+ App using the technology from OpenAI to power content search and discovery. This new feature represents a major breakthrough in delivering a more intuitive, intelligent, and personalized user experience - a world first innovation in the entertainment industry that further confirms CANAL+’s position as a pioneer and consistent trend setter.

The CANAL+ App will offer a uniquely enhanced search experience that goes beyond traditional keyword based queries. Thanks to OpenAI frontier models, subscribers will be able to express what they want to watch in their own words - based on their preferences, their mood, or even spontaneous curiosity - and receive tailored content suggestions that truly meet their expectations.

Whether a subscriber types “I would like a comforting romantic comedy” like BRIDGET JONES: MAD ABOUT THE BOY, “an epic historical series” like KING & CONQUEROR or “something lighthearted, fun and entertaining to watch” like LOUPS-GAROUS into the search bar, the CANAL+ App will be able to suggests tailored content that matches subscribers’s queries.

Deploying OpenAI is a natural continuation of CANAL+’s long-standing tradition of pioneering innovations that shape the future of entertainment experiences. Just as CANAL+ pioneered the ability to watch the best content all in one place with its aggregation strategy in 2019, and was the first to offer a content viewing experience in connected vehicles in 2024, this collaboration continues to redefine how its subscribers access and enjoy entertainment.

Maxime Saada, CEO of CANAL+ : “We are delighted to collaborate with OpenAI, one of the world’s leading artificial intelligence companies, to enhance the entertainment experience of our 40 million subscribers. This collaboration is part of CANAL+’s long-standing tradition of innovation and its commitment to continuously reinventing entertainment. Today, our subscribers already access the very best international and local content on the CANAL+ App. With this technological collaboration, we are proud to take a major leap forward, redefining how audiences discover content.”

Ashley Kramer, VP of Enterprise of OpenAI : “People increasingly expect technology to understand them the way they naturally express themselves. By bringing OpenAI into the CANAL+ App, subscribers can describe exactly what they feel like watching. It’s a great example of how advanced AI can make everyday entertainment experiences simpler, more intuitive, and more personal.”

CANAL+ will use Google Cloud’s AI technology to optimize content discovery and propel video creativity

CANAL+ and Google Cloud have announced a new multi-year partnership focused on artificial intelligence. Starting in June 2026, CANAL+ will deploy Google Cloud’s latest generative AI technologies across European and African markets where the CANAL+ App is available, unlocking a new era of creative possibilities for the group.

Tailor made entertainment experience fueled by Google Cloud content video Indexing

Using Google Cloud’s technologies, CANAL+ will accelerate the content video indexing of its extensive content library. The new content classification will provide the global media and entertainment group with an in-depth multimodal database combining sound, video, and text data. This increased granularity in content classification will enable smarter, more personalized content recommendations on the homepage of the CANAL+ App, matching each subscriber’s preferences according to their viewing habits. This will make it easier than ever for subscribers to discover even more content they love on CANAL+.

CANAL+’s multimodal database of video content paves the way for a wide range of opportunities - from enhanced content discovery to entirely new business models.

A new creative frontier fueled by innovation and faster experimentation cycles

CANAL+ will also leverage Veo3, Google’s new genAI video technology to provide its production partners and creative teams with tools that will unlock the creative ambitions of their talent, for instance, previsualizing a scene before shooting it or recreating historical moments from a single archival photo.

The partnership guarantees a very secure technical environment, where rights, assets ownership are deeply protected. Using these tools & platform, CANAL+’s partners will have full control of their production, of their editorial decision, with opportunities to try new approach while ensuring cost control, thanks to significantly shorter experimentation cycles.

This secure technical platform and tools will be made available to production who wish to use it in films supported by CANAL+.

Stéphane Baumier, Chief Technology Officer of CANAL+ : “We are pleased to leverage Google Cloud’s most advanced AI technologies to drive CANAL+’s technical innovation. Building on a long-standing collaboration with Google, this strategic partnership paves the way for limitless possibilities. Content video indexing for CANAL+ at scale gives the group a significant edge, notably by enabling us to deliver sharper discovery and truly enhanced personalized journeys on the CANAL+ App across all our markets. Creativity is the cornerstone of CANAL+’s content production. We are excited to push creative boundaries by providing creators with tools that enable AI-generated video scenes, impossible to produce using traditional methods.”

Matt Renner, President, Chief Revenue Officer of Google Cloud : "The entertainment industry is at a pivotal inflection point where the intersection of creativity and compute power defines market leadership. Our deepened collaboration with CANAL+ is a testament to a shared culture of relentless innovation. By leveraging Google Cloud’s generative AI technologies, CANAL+ is not just adopting tools; they are architecting the future of media and fundamentally transforming the entertainment landscape on a global scale.”

You Are My Love, Former Glow TV Series Has Been Picked Up By Star Life

A few years ago, eMedia Investments removed South African based entertainment channel Glow TV from their platforms. With no other platform available to package the channel, Nismedia that served as the parent company ended it's operations.

Since then, various shows from Glow TV had started to resurface in South Africa with the short lived Uzozisola - Regrets on e.tv while Star Life aired Saras & Kumud and Forbidden Love. Now Star Life will expand this lineup with You Are My Love.

Synopsis for You Are My Love

The story revolves around the intense love story of Pankti Sharma, a beautiful, kind-hearted young girl with dreams of becoming a successful singer, and Ahaan Dhanrajgir, a charming, aspiring rockstar musician from a wealthy family.

Pankti lives under the control of her materialistic and failed actress mother, Anita Sharma, who is deeply in debt and bankrupt. In a shocking and exploitative twist, Anita "sells" her daughter Pankti to JD (Jayant Dhanrajgir)—Ahaan's rich, powerful, cruel, manipulative, and much older uncle—for money to sustain her lavish lifestyle. Pankti is forced into a exploitative arrangement as JD's mistress, trapping her in a life of emotional and financial bondage.

When Ahaan meets Pankti, he falls deeply in love with her at first sight, and she reciprocates his feelings. Ahaan, unaware at first of the dark reality behind Pankti's situation, becomes determined to rescue her, help her pursue her singing dreams, and free her from JD's clutches. Their romance faces immense obstacles, including family opposition, JD's ruthless interference, betrayal, societal judgment, and dramatic twists involving blackmail, revenge, and emotional turmoil.

Known in India as Tu Aashiqui and broadcast on Glow TV as The Cost Of Love. It was broadcast on 20 September 2018 and concluded on 12 October 2018 on Colors TV after 288 half hour episodes.

It starred Jannat Zubair Rahmani as Singer Pankti Dhanrajgir, Ritvik Arora as Musician Ahaan Dhanrajgir, Rahil Azam as Jayant Dhanrajgir, Gauri Pradhan as Anita Sharma, Rushal Parekh as Uday Mathur and Nidhi Shah as Poorva Sharma.

You Are My Love will broadcast daily at 16:00 CAT from 19 March on Star Life.

Channel Premiere: Mannat, Colors TV Original Launches On Star Life

Star Life, a Bollywood based channel operated by JioStar has announced that they'll be launching a new series called Mannat. Known in India as Mannat – Har Khushi Paane Ki, the series will air daily at 21:30 from 19 March.

Synopsis for Mannat

The story is set in vibrant Mumbai and centers on Mannat, a talented, happy-go-lucky, and determined young chef who aspires to become one of India's renowned chefs. Abandoned as a newborn at Marine Drive by her biological mother, she was saved by a young boy and raised by her loving maternal aunt (maasi), Shruti, whom she initially believes to be her mother.

After graduating from culinary college, Mannat lands her first job at a high-end restaurant called "Mezbaani," owned by the cold, ruthless, and critical Aishwarya (her biological mother, who abandoned her) and her business partner Vikrant Saluja (the male lead, who becomes supportive and romantically involved with Mannat).

Unaware of her true origins, Mannat faces challenges in the professional world, including prejudice due to her disadvantaged background. Aishwarya, initially harsh toward Mannat and even fires her at one point, shares a deep but hidden connection with her. The narrative explores Mannat's journey to fulfill her career dreams while uncovering shocking truths about her birth, family ties, and identity.

It starred Ayesha Singh as Mannat Khanna, Adnan Khan as Aman "Vikrant" Saluja, Mona Vasu as Sonia "Aishwarya" Khanna Raisingh, Manit Joura as DCP Dhairya Kumar, Mamata Verma as Shruti Khanna and Yami Khandelwal / Trisha Sharda as Dua Saluja.

Since it's inception on Colors TV, Mannat continues to be broadcast on the channel with over 390 episodes having being filmed. It will join Noyontara: The Hidden Truth as another TV show to have aired on Colors TV.

Mannat will broadcast daily on Star Life from 19 March at 21:30 CAT replacing Sweet Love.

New Series Alert: Parineeta Coming Soon To Zee One

Zee One, a Bollywood based entertainment channel operated by Zee Entertainment Enterprises offering English dubbed content has announced the addition of a new show, Parineeta. It is scheduled to broadcast daily on Zee One from 28 March.

Synopsis for Zee One

The story begins with the contrasting worlds of Parul, an ambitious girl with a thirst for knowledge, and Rayan, a wealthy, sharp-tongued city-bred man. 

Their lives collide when a series of events—including threats from a local character named Tapoti—compels Rayan and Parul into an unwanted marriage. Rayan initially rejects Parul, harboring deep resentment from their brief, antagonistic time at university.

After moving into the domineering Basu household headed by Rayan's grandfather, Ashutosh, Parul faces constant hostility from Rayan and a complex love triangle involving Shirin, who attempts to sabotage her at every turn.

Parineeta debuted on Zee Bangla on November 11, 2024 and since then over 470 half hour episodes have been produced. It starred Parul Adhikari as Ishani Chatterjee, Rayan Basu as Uday Pratap Singh and Shirin as Surabhi Mallick.

Parineeta premieres 28 March 2026 on Zee One replacing Padamatis Love. Other shows set to rollout on the channel during the month include How Do I Say This and Undercover Love.

Has eExtra Decided To Call It Quits For Bollywood Dramas?

Before Star Life and Zee One, there was eExtra that brought India to South Africa with shows like Madhubala, Yeh Teri Galiyan and Piyaa Albela. But in recent months, it appears that eExtra's Kuiertyd is building up it's airtime on the channel.

By the afternoon, eExtra now has daily repeats of Yosef, Sout Van Die Aarde, Chrysalis and Dokter Ali. This was the timeslot used to accommodate ramp up it's rivalled offering for Star Life now that's been reduced to a one hour slot for Naagin.

Uzozisola - Regrets gave Naagin the weight it needed but after e.tv scrapped further airings. Naagin just became an outsider on eExtra as daily repeats of e.tv soaps take up the morning with Kuiertyd taking up the afternoons and primetime.

Empress In The Palace, a former show on eExtra has since found its way onto eSeries. At this point, I wouldn't be surprised if eMedia Investments decided to move all its Asian stories to eSeries in order to combat with those repeats.

As for Bollywood dramas, I feel like eExtra's story had come to an end I mean it never gained much recognition. For DStv viewers, there was Zee World with Glow TV on Openview and with it's afternoon slot most viewers were probably at work by then.

It could never garner the Zee World recognition it deserved even with Star Life and Zee One only airing repeats by then.

As for Kuiertyd, that's another story as Ouma Sarie and Droomvelore's broadcast on e.tv those shows were able to attract over 3 million viewers. Their continued success led KykNET to ramp up their own portfolio with Dikker As Water and Landman.

For sometime now, several Openview consumers didn't really see the need of having eExtra air these shows. Especially since eMedia Investments had been outsourcing from their competitors who had branded channels (i.e. Zee One) on Openview.

This market as some people recall has been overcrowded on both DStv and Openview. Not that it's a bad thing but in scenarios like this it's hard for a broadcaster like eExtra to offer alternatives if there's bigger prey out there.