French media giant Canal+ has secured full control of MultiChoice Group, the parent company of DStv and GOtv, following the approval of its $3 billion acquisition by South Africa’s Competition Tribunal.
The Tribunal’s decision, announced on Wednesday, July 23, marks a major turning point in Africa’s broadcasting landscape, as Canal+ completes its purchase of the remaining 55% stake in MultiChoice it did not previously own. The deal is expected to be fully finalised by October 8, 2025.
While the green light was given, the approval comes with a set of public interest conditions to safeguard South African media sovereignty and ensure ongoing investment in local content and employment.
Canal+, which already operates in 25 African countries and boasts over 8 million subscribers, plans to leverage this acquisition to expand its footprint across the continent. The company has set its sights on reaching 50 to 100 million subscribers in the coming years.
MultiChoice, Africa’s largest pay-TV provider, adds a subscriber base of over 14.5 million across 50 countries in sub-Saharan Africa. The group also controls major platforms such as SuperSport, DStv, and GOtv, making it a strategic asset for Canal+ in the competitive media market.
“This deal transforms our position in Africa,” said Canal+ CEO Maxime Saada. “Together, we can scale faster, access high-growth markets, and achieve long-term synergies.”
One key advantage of the merger is the combined reach of Canal+’s French-language content with MultiChoice’s dominance in English and Portuguese-speaking markets, effectively creating a multi-language media force with pan-African appeal.
Financially, the deal is expected to provide a much-needed boost to MultiChoice, injecting capital to support technology upgrades, content development, and digital innovation. Canal+ has also pledged to invest approximately 26 billion rand over the next three years in line with the public interest conditions laid out by South African authorities.
These commitments include keeping MultiChoice’s headquarters in South Africa, supporting local sports and entertainment production, and backing South African content creators.
In a joint statement, both companies reaffirmed their dedication to the local media ecosystem: “Our commitment to South African content, creators, and the broader creative industry remains firm. We intend to deepen our investment and expand opportunities for local talent.”
Canal+ initially launched its buyout campaign in 2023 with an offer of 125 rand per share, valuing MultiChoice at around $3 billion. With this acquisition now complete, the company is poised to reshape Africa’s pay-TV sector and take advantage of a rapidly growing market hungry for diverse, high-quality entertainment.
Meanwhile, MultiChoice has faced growing scrutiny in recent months, especially in Nigeria, where users have criticised the company following a reported loss of over 240,000 DStv and GOtv subscribers. Observers say the acquisition could lead to service improvements and broader content offerings as the new owners seek to re-engage with subscribers across the continent.
