Canal+, a French media giant, has officially acquired full ownership of MultiChoice Group, the parent company of DSTV and GOTV, in a landmark $3 billion deal. This acquisition gives Canal+ control of Africa’s largest pay-TV operator, with over 14.5 million subscribers across 50 sub-Saharan African countries. The deal, approved by South Africa’s Competition Tribunal, marks a significant shift in Africa’s media landscape and positions Canal+ to dominate the pay-TV industry. The acquisition is a major strategic expansion for Canal+, which already operates in 25 African countries with over eight million subscribers. With MultiChoice’s robust portfolio of content platforms, including DStv, GOtv, and SuperSport, Canal+ is poised to significantly scale up its presence, targeting 50 to 100 million subscribers across the continent in the coming years. As part of the approval conditions, Canal+ has committed to investing approximately 26 billion rand over the next three years in initiatives aligned with South Africa’s public interest goals. These include retaining MultiChoice’s headquarters in South Africa, maintaining investment in local content and sports broadcasting, and supporting local content creators. The company aims to create a true champion for Africa, blending Canal+’s French-language content with MultiChoice’s dominant English and Portuguese offerings. The deal is expected to inject fresh capital into MultiChoice, enabling deeper investment in local content production, digital innovation, and technology upgrades. With full ownership now secured, the French media giant is set to redefine the African pay-TV industry, tapping into its vast potential and shifting the competitive landscape.
