In one of the biggest media deals in Africa’s history, French media powerhouse Canal+ has completed its acquisition of MultiChoice Group, parent company of DStv and GOtv, in a landmark $3 billion (approx. R55 billion) transaction.
The deal, approved by South Africa’s Competition Tribunal on Wednesday, gives Canal+ full control of Africa’s leading pay-TV operator by securing the remaining 55% stake it did not previously own. The takeover, following months of negotiations and regulatory scrutiny, is expected to close by October 8, 2025.
While granting approval, the Tribunal imposed strict public-interest conditions designed to safeguard local content and protect South Africa’s media sovereignty. As part of its commitments, Canal+ pledged to invest R26 billion over the next three years in areas such as local content production, sports broadcasting, and support for South African creators.
MultiChoice’s headquarters will remain in South Africa, and existing investments in local programming will be maintained. In a joint statement, the companies assured:
“We will maintain funding for South African general entertainment and sports content, ensuring local creators have a strong foundation for future success.”
The acquisition marks a major strategic leap for Canal+ as it eyes Africa’s rapidly growing media and entertainment market. The French group, which already operates in 25 African countries with more than eight million subscribers, is now positioned to scale aggressively, targeting 50–100 million subscribers across the continent.
For MultiChoice, the deal brings a timely capital injection to fuel investments in digital innovation, technology upgrades, and local content development, while leveraging Canal+’s global expertise and resources.
The merger will unite Canal+’s strong French-language content with MultiChoice’s dominant English and Portuguese offerings, creating a multilingual pay-TV giant capable of serving Africa’s diverse audiences.
Describing the deal as transformative, Canal+ CEO Maxime Saada said:
“The combined group will benefit from enhanced scale, exposure to high-growth markets, and the ability to deliver meaningful synergies.”
MultiChoice, Africa’s largest pay-TV operator, brings more than 14.5 million subscribers in 50 sub-Saharan African countries, alongside flagship platforms such as DStv, GOtv, and SuperSport.
With full ownership secured, Canal+ is set to redefine Africa’s media future, blending global content expertise with local creativity to capture one of the world’s most dynamic entertainment markets.
