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Canal+ was a Spanish commercial television channel operated by Sogecable, before its eventual sale to Telefónica. It was available on the digital satellite television and IPTV platform Movistar+.
 | |
| Country | Spain |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Nationwide |
| Network | Movistar+ |
| Headquarters | Tres Cantos, Spain |
| Programming | |
| Language(s) | Spanish |
| Picture format | 576i SDTV 1080i HDTV |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Telefónica (2015-2016) PRISA TV (1990-2015) |
| Sister channels | Canal+ Liga, Canal+ Liga Multi, Canal+ Liga de Campeones, Canal+ Fútbol, Canal+ Deportes, Canal+ Deportes 2 HD, Canal+ Golf, Sportmanía, Canal+ Acción, Canal+ Comedia, Canal+ DCine Canal+ Xtra, Canal+ Toros, Canal+ 3D, Canal+ Yomvi, 40 TV |
| History | |
| Launched | 8 June 1990 (8 June 1990) (trial transmissions) 14 September 1990 (14 September 1990) (regular programming) |
| Replaced | Canal+ 1 |
| Closed | 1 February 2016 (1 February 2016) |
| Replaced by | #0 |
| Links | |
| Website | www.canalplus.es |
Canal+ began its trial transmissions on June 8, 1990 and it launched as a regular channel on September 14 of the same year on the platform of the same name.[1]
In 1997, new channels using the Canal+ brand were launched in Spain, following the launch of Canal Satélite Digital. Just as on the other markets where Canal+ was present, the channels were named after colours: Canal+ Rojo (Canal+ Red) and Canal+ Azul (Canal+ Blue).[2] A special channel broadcasting content in 16:9 aspect ratio was launched later, but it was replaced by a time-shift channel in 2001. In 2003, the colour channels were replaced with the second channel called Canal+ 2 and three dedicated movie channels and three dedicated sports channels.
In 2005, the Spanish government agreed to a change in the license terms for the channel.[3] The permission to change the channel from a mostly encrypted channel to a 24-hour free-to-air channel was officially given by the council of ministers on 29 July 2005. From November 2005, its analogue terrestrial frequencies were given to Sogecable's new channel named Cuatro ("Four").[4]
A High-definition version of Canal+ (Canal+ HD) began airing in 2008.[5] In 2010, it became the first Spanish channel to offer 3D TV through Canal+ 3D.[6] Around the same time, Canal+ begun to be offered in other pay-TV operators in Spain outside of Digital+, and in 2011 the channel was renamed as Canal+ 1.[7]
Since 2011 Canal+ began broadcasting HBO series like Game of Thrones, Mildred Pierce, Luck, Boardwalk Empire, True Blood and Hung.[8] That deal ended in 2016 when HBO confirmed its launch in Spain.[9]
On 8 July 2015, following the creation of Movistar+, cable providers outside of Movistar+, stopped carrying the channel, and it reverted back to its original name of Canal+.
From 1 February 2016, it was replaced by a new channel, #0 (Cero).[10]