CANAL+ is a global media group serving 25 million subscribers across more than 50 countries. As its international footprint expanded, so did the volume and complexity of its data. However, much of this information remained fragmented, under-documented, and difficult to govern effectively.
With increasing regulatory pressure from frameworks such as GDPR and CNIL, CANAL+ launched a transformation initiative to centralize its data knowledge, strengthen compliance, and foster collaboration across global teams.
A core principle guided this initiative: scalable innovation and regulatory confidence require structured, transparent, and shared data governance.
Challenges
CANAL+ faced several challenges related to its growing and decentralized data ecosystem:
- Data silos across international teams and systems
- Underused and poorly documented data assets
- Inconsistent definitions between business and technical stakeholders
- Increasing regulatory requirements, particularly around personal and usage data
- High analyst turnover requiring faster onboarding
- Limited visibility into sensitive data locations
The organization needed a centralized platform capable of automating metadata collection, standardizing definitions, and enabling collaboration at scale.
Why DataGalaxy
CANAL+ selected DataGalaxy based on three key criteria:
- Ability to centralize metadata and documentation in a shared repository
- Automation of metadata collection and integration with key tools such as Power BI
- Collaborative Business Glossary enabling teams to align on common definitions
This combination enabled CANAL+ to transform fragmented information into a governed and accessible data hub.
“We chose DataGalaxy to provide us with a common repository that will enable us to better understand data, to know where it comes from, how it is transformed, and how it is made available through a collaborative platform that will enable us to create, share and ensure that we have a common vocabulary across the company’s data.”
DataGalaxy implementation
CANAL+ deployed DataGalaxy through a phased rollout approach.
The teams:
- Automated metadata ingestion across core systems
- Integrated reporting tools such as Power BI
- Built and standardized a global Business Glossary
- Structured governance processes around sensitive data tracking
Within less than three months, the first use case was operational, demonstrating rapid time-to-value and encouraging broader adoption across teams.
Outcomes
With DataGalaxy, CANAL+ is now able to:
- Centralize data knowledge across global operations
- Precisely locate and manage sensitive personal and usage data
- Strengthen GDPR and CNIL compliance
- Accelerate onboarding for new analysts
- Improve collaboration between business and technical teams
- Enable faster, more confident decision-making
As a result, CANAL+ has streamlined operations, reinforced regulatory assurance, and built a collaborative data culture that supports both day-to-day performance and long-term innovation.
Key takeaway
Global media organizations need unified, compliant, and collaborative data governance.
By centralizing metadata and aligning teams around shared definitions, DataGalaxy enables CANAL+ to transform scattered information into a strategic, compliant asset that drives efficiency, trust, and innovation at scale.
