In a major shake-up of Africa’s media landscape, French media giant Canal+ has officially acquired 100% ownership of MultiChoice Group—the parent company of DStv and GOtv—in a landmark deal valued at $3 billion (approximately 55 billion rand).
This development follows the approval of the transaction by South Africa’s Competition Tribunal on Wednesday, July 23.
The acquisition, which gives Canal+ the remaining 55% stake it did not previously own, marks a strategic expansion into the African entertainment market. Canal+, which already operates in 25 African countries and boasts over eight million subscribers, is now set to significantly ramp up its footprint across the continent.
The company has ambitious plans to grow its subscriber base to between 50 and 100 million users in the coming years.
MultiChoice, Africa’s largest pay-TV broadcaster, brings with it a subscriber base of over 14.5 million spread across 50 sub-Saharan African nations. The group also owns premium entertainment brands including DStv, GOtv, and SuperSport—making it a highly attractive acquisition for the French conglomerate.
Canal+ CEO Maxime Saada described the deal as “transformative,” adding: “The combined group will benefit from enhanced scale, greater exposure to high-growth markets and the ability to deliver meaningful synergies.
”One of the standout benefits of this merger is the potential for content integration. Canal+’s strong portfolio of French-language programming will now complement MultiChoice’s robust English and Portuguese offerings, creating a multilingual media powerhouse well-suited to Africa’s diverse audiences.
Beyond strategic alignment, the acquisition is expected to provide a significant financial boost for MultiChoice. The fresh capital injection will support investments in local content production, technology enhancements, and digital innovation.
However, the Competition Tribunal’s approval came with several conditions to ensure the deal aligns with South Africa’s public interest objectives.
Canal+ is required to invest around 26 billion rand over the next three years in initiatives that promote local content, protect media sovereignty, and support the broader creative ecosystem.
These conditions include retaining MultiChoice’s headquarters in South Africa, maintaining investments in local programming and sports broadcasting, and backing South African content creators.
In a joint statement, Canal+ and MultiChoice reaffirmed their commitment to nurturing local talent and content:
“We will maintain funding for South African general entertainment and sports content, providing local content creators with a strong foundation for future success.”
Canal+ initiated its takeover bid in 2023 with a mandatory buyout offer of 125 rand per share, valuing MultiChoice at approximately $3 billion.
With the green light now secured, the deal is set to be finalized by October 8, 2025, setting the stage for a new era in African pay-TV.
