In a landmark $3 billion acquisition, French media conglomerate Canal+ has secured full ownership of MultiChoice Group, the parent company of DStv and GOtv, solidifying its position as a major player in Africa’s media landscape. The South African Competition Tribunal approved the deal on July 23, 2025, granting Canal+ the remaining 55% stake it did not previously own, with finalization expected by October 8, 2025.
This transformative merger blends Canal+’s existing operations in 25 African countries with MultiChoice’s 14.5 million subscribers across 50 sub-Saharan nations, including high-profile content assets like SuperSport. The unified entity now aims to scale its reach to between 50 and 100 million subscribers, combining French-, English-, and Portuguese-language programming for a diverse continental audience.
The Tribunal’s approval came with public interest conditions, ensuring the protection of local content, support for South African creatives, and the retention of MultiChoice’s headquarters in the country. Canal+ pledged to invest 26 billion rand over the next three years in initiatives aligned with South Africa’s media development goals, including content production, sports broadcasting, and digital innovation.
Canal+ CEO Maxime Saada called the acquisition “transformative,” emphasizing the synergy, scale, and exposure to high-growth markets it enables. For MultiChoice, the deal promises fresh capital and strategic backing to expand its footprint and enhance local offerings. Together, Canal+ and MultiChoice are poised to reshape Africa’s pay-TV industry, offering a robust, multilingual, and locally-driven media experience to millions across the continent.
