French media conglomerate Canal+ has completed its $3 billion acquisition of MultiChoice Group, the parent company of DStv and GOtv, gaining full control of Africa’s largest pay-TV broadcaster. The deal, approved by South Africa’s Competition Tribunal on July 23, 2025, grants Canal+ the remaining 55% stake it did not previously own, with the transaction set to finalize by October 8, 2025.
The acquisition, valued at approximately 55 billion rand, followed extensive negotiations and regulatory scrutiny. The Tribunal imposed conditions to safeguard South Africa’s media landscape, including commitments to local content production and maintaining MultiChoice’s headquarters in the country. Canal+ pledged to invest 26 billion rand over three years to support local entertainment, sports broadcasting, and content creators, aligning with public interest goals.
Canal+ CEO Maxime Saada described the merger as a game-changer, stating, “This deal enhances our scale and access to high-growth African markets, unlocking significant synergies.” With operations in 25 African countries and over eight million subscribers, Canal+ aims to expand its reach to 50–100 million subscribers, leveraging MultiChoice’s 14.5 million subscribers across 50 sub-Saharan African nations and its popular platforms, including SuperSport.
The merger combines Canal+’s French-language content with MultiChoice’s English and Portuguese offerings, creating a versatile media platform for diverse African audiences. The deal also provides MultiChoice with fresh capital to enhance local content, upgrade technology, and drive digital innovation.
Despite the strategic milestone, MultiChoice has faced challenges, including a reported loss of 243,000 DStv and GOtv subscribers, prompting criticism from Nigerian consumers. The acquisition, initiated with a 2023 buyout offer of 125 rand per share, positions Canal+ to reshape Africa’s pay-TV landscape, capitalizing on the continent’s growing media market while addressing local concerns through sustained investment in South Africa’s media ecosystem.
