By: Kwame Bediako
French media conglomerate Canal+ have officially acquired full ownership of MultiChoice Group, Africa’s largest pay-TV operator, in a landmark $3 billion (approximately 55 billion rand) deal.
The South African Competition Tribunal approved the acquisition on July 23, 2025, allowing Canal+ to purchase the remaining 55% stake it did not previously own. The deal is expected to close by October 8, 2025.
This strategic acquisition dramatically expands Canal+’s footprint in Africa, where it already operates in 25 countries with over eight million subscribers.
The integration of MultiChoice’s 14.5 million subscribers and flagship platforms such as DStv and GOtv positions Canal+ to target 50 to 100 million subscribers across the continent in the coming years.
The transaction also combines Canal+’s extensive French-language content with MultiChoice’s dominant English and Portuguese offerings, creating a multilingual media powerhouse serving diverse African audiences.
Maxime Saada, CEO of Canal+, described the acquisition as transformative: “The combined group will benefit from enhanced scale, greater exposure to high-growth markets, and the ability to deliver meaningful synergies.”
He expressed optimism regarding the merger’s potential to benefit South African consumers, creative industries and the country’s sports ecosystem, highlighting enhanced investment capacity and content production.
In line with the Competition Tribunal’s public interest conditions, Canal+ has committed to investing about 26 billion rand over three years in initiatives that include maintaining MultiChoice’s headquarters in South Africa, supporting local content creators, and preserving investment in local entertainment and sports broadcasting.
Both companies reaffirmed their dedication to South Africa’s media sovereignty and community impact through sustained funding for local general entertainment and sports programming.
The Canal+ takeover began in 2023 with a mandatory buyout offer, valuing MultiChoice at around $3 billion.
With full ownership now secured, Canal+ is poised to redefine the African pay-TV industry, leveraging MultiChoice’s established platforms and subscriber base to compete strongly against global streaming giants and drive innovation across Africa’s media and entertainment sectors.
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