CANAL+ Sport - Geoblocking

Breaking Boundaries: How We Helped CANAL+ Sport Win the Digital Game

When CANAL+ Sport approached us with their YouTube challenge, we knew we were about to tackle one of the most intricate projects in sports content management. 

The question wasn't solely focused on reaching more viewers. It was about creating a complex digital strategy to respect broadcasting rights while maximizing global reach.

Understanding CANAL+ Sport

CANAL+ Sport isn't your average sports broadcaster. They're the powerhouse behind the coverage of Poland's premier football league (PKO BP Ekstraklasa), NBA basketball, WTA tennis, and numerous other prestigious sporting events. 

Trying to manage broadcasting rights for all these different sports, across different territories on a platform as vast as YouTube was a significant challenge - but that's exactly why they came to BB Media,

The Challenge

Working closely with CANAL+ Sport, we identified three critical challenges:

1. They needed to expand their global audience without violating any territorial broadcasting agreements, which can seem overwhelming.
2. They needed to turn this expanded viewership into revenue. Having more viewers is always the goal, but sustainability requires monetization.
3. They needed to manage an incredibly complex web of regional broadcasting rights. One wrong move could result in content being shown in restricted territories—a serious foul in the broadcasting game.

The Results

The results spoke volumes about the effectiveness of our strategy:

• By precisely controlling content distribution, we helped CANAL+ Sport reach new audiences while maintaining perfect compliance with regional rights agreements.
• New markets meant new monetization opportunities, creating additional revenue streams for CANAL+ Sport.
• Our labeling system transformed their content management process from a complex challenge into a streamlined operation.
• Viewers got exactly what they wanted, when they wanted it, without technical hiccups or rights-related interruptions.

How Did We Do It?

Our strategy was successful because we took a three-pronged approach:

• Precision Geofencing
  
  We implemented geofencing technology across more than 3,600 videos. This wasn't just about blocking content - it was about ensuring each video reached exactly the right audience in exactly the right territory. In effect, we created digital borders that automatically directed content to permitted regions while respecting licensing restrictions.

• Smart Content Organization 

We introduced over 19,000 custom labels to organize their massive video library. This is akin to creating a digital filing system so precise that any piece of content could be located and managed within seconds. Beyond organization, we helped CANAL+ create efficiency at scale.

• Technical Optimization 

Identifying and resolving more than 250 content management issues was a huge component in our work. You might think a content management issue is a small thing, but these were the kinds of technical issues that could cause viewer frustration or rights violations if left unchecked. Our team worked tirelessly to ensure smooth content delivery across all regions.

The Bigger Picture

Yes, we worked hard to solve CANAL+’s technical challenges, but we also worked hard to show just how powerful sophisticated digital tools could be in transforming a broadcasting challenge into a growth opportunity. 

With the right strategy, you can expand globally while thinking locally, maximize revenue while respecting rights, and manage complex content libraries while maintaining perfect organization.

Whether you're dealing with sports content, entertainment, or any other form of digital media, the principles remain the same: precise control, efficient management, and strategic distribution are key to success in the digital age.

Do you need to make sense of the complex world of digital content management when it comes to the global stage? We’d love to help. Get in touch now.