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Canal+ seals full ownership of MultiChoice in deal approved by SA Tribunal
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Over 243,000 Nigerian subscribers dumped DStv, GOtv amid growing discontent
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French group targets 100 million subscribers, pledges to retain HQ, boost local content
French media conglomerate Canal+ has officially acquired MultiChoice Group, the owner of DStv and GOtv, in a historic $3 billion (approximately 55 billion rand) deal that grants it 100 percent ownership of Africa’s largest pay-TV company.
The South African Competition Tribunal approved the acquisition on Wednesday, July 23, setting in motion a timeline for the deal to be finalised by October 8, 2025. The Tribunal, while granting approval, imposed stringent public interest conditions to safeguard South Africa’s media independence and promote investment in local content.
Canal+, which already operated across 25 African countries with over 8 million subscribers, now inherits MultiChoice’s massive footprint of 14.5 million active subscribers across 50 sub-Saharan nations. This positions the French broadcaster to expand aggressively, with plans to grow its reach to as many as 100 million subscribers across the continent.
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The acquisition also comes at a moment of turmoil for MultiChoice, as more than 243,000 Nigerian subscribers reportedly discontinued their DStv and GOtv services, citing poor service delivery and high costs. Many Nigerians have taken to social media to express dissatisfaction, accusing the company of disregard for customer welfare and exploitative pricing.
Canal+ Chief Executive Officer Maxime Saada described the transaction as “transformative,” adding that it would deliver enhanced scale, broaden access to high-growth African markets, and unlock synergies across content, technology, and customer engagement.
One of the merger’s standout features is the planned integration of French-language content from Canal+ with MultiChoice’s English and Portuguese programming—creating a multilingual broadcast empire that can serve diverse cultural segments.
Beyond strategic ambition, the deal includes a significant financial pledge. Under the Competition Tribunal’s conditional approval, Canal+ committed to invest approximately 26 billion rand over the next three years in line with public interest obligations. These include retaining MultiChoice’s headquarters in South Africa, maintaining investments in local sports and entertainment content, and bolstering opportunities for indigenous content creators.
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In a joint statement, both companies assured stakeholders of their dedication to South Africa’s media development:
“We will maintain funding for South African general entertainment and sports content, providing local content creators with a strong foundation for future success.”
The takeover follows a mandatory buyout offer launched by Canal+ in 2023 at 125 rand per share, valuing the entire MultiChoice business at around $3 billion.
With regulatory approval now in hand, the French media titan is set to reshape Africa’s pay-TV industry, amid shifting consumer behaviour, streaming competition, and continental digital evolution.
