MultiChoice Now Owned By French Company

French media powerhouse Canal+ has completed its full acquisition of MultiChoice Group, the leading African pay-TV provider, in a historic transaction valued at approximately $3 billion (roughly 55 billion rand). The deal, which saw Canal+ secure the remaining 55% stake it did not already own, was officially approved by South Africa’s Competition Tribunal on Wednesday, July 23.

Following prolonged negotiations and in-depth regulatory assessments, the Tribunal’s clearance sets the stage for the transaction to be finalised by October 8, 2025. While granting approval, the Tribunal also enforced a set of public interest commitments to safeguard South African content creation and ensure the preservation of media independence in the country.

This acquisition marks a significant move by Canal+ to strengthen its foothold across Africa’s rapidly growing media landscape. With an existing footprint in 25 African nations and a subscriber base exceeding eight million, Canal+ now aims to dramatically expand its reach, setting ambitious targets of between 50 and 100 million subscribers continent-wide.

MultiChoice, widely regarded as Africa’s toptier broadcaster, operates across 50 sub-Saharan countries and boasts more than 14.5 million subscribers. It owns prominent platforms such as DStv and GOtv, along with popular content brands like SuperSport, assets that made the group an attractive strategic acquisition for Canal+.

Calling the merger a “transformative” step, Canal+ CEO Maxime Saada emphasised its long-term value: “The combined group will benefit from enhanced scale, greater exposure to high-growth markets and the ability to deliver meaningful synergies.”

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One of the most notable advantages of the merger lies in the content integration. With Canal+ contributing a rich library of French-language programming and MultiChoice offering leading English and Portuguese content, the new entity is set to become a multilingual media force tailored to Africa’s diverse audiences.

Beyond strategic growth, the deal offers financial reinforcement for MultiChoice. The new ownership is expected to provide vital capital for enhancing local content production, upgrading technology infrastructure, and boosting digital transformation initiatives.

In its approval, the Competition Tribunal required Canal+ to invest around 26 billion rand over the next three years in line with South Africa’s public interest goals. This includes retaining MultiChoice’s operational base in South Africa, bolstering support for local creatives, and sustaining investment in original South African productions.

In a shared statement, both Canal+ and MultiChoice underscored their continued dedication to local storytelling and talent: “We will maintain funding for South African general entertainment and sports content, providing local content creators with a strong foundation for future success.”

Canal+ initiated its pursuit of full ownership in 2023 with a mandatory buyout offer of 125 rand per share, valuing MultiChoice at approximately $3 billion. With the deal now fully sanctioned, the French broadcaster is set to reshape Africa’s pay-TV space, unlocking new opportunities and driving innovation across the continent.