DSTV and GOtv Acquired by French Media Giant, Canal+
In a landmark shift in Africa’s media ecosystem, French broadcasting giant Canal+ has officially acquired full control of MultiChoice Group, the company behind DStv, GOtv, Showmax, and SuperSport. The $3 billion (approx. R55 billion) deal was greenlit by South Africa’s Competition Tribunal on July 23, 2025, and is expected to close by October 8, pending final regulatory clearance.
Deal Breakdown
Canal+ already held 45.2% of MultiChoice before launching a mandatory buyout offer in 2023 at R125 per share. This acquisition secures the remaining 54.8%, giving Canal+ full control of Africa’s largest pay-TV network.
The buyout process involved months of scrutiny by regulators, culminating in approval from the Competition Tribunal under strict public interest conditions.
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🇿🇦 South African Regulations & LicenceCo
To comply with South Africa’s 20% cap on foreign ownership of broadcast licenses, MultiChoice has created LicenceCo, a locally held entity that will independently manage its broadcasting license. This ensures that Canal+ won’t directly control South African airwaves.
Canal+ Commits R26 Billion to South African Media
To secure approval, Canal+ pledged to:
- Invest R26 billion (~$1.4B) in local content and sports broadcasting over the next 3 years
- Retain MultiChoice’s HQ in South Africa
- Protect local jobs and promote diversity in media production
“We will maintain funding for South African general entertainment and sports content, providing local creators a strong foundation for future success,” said both companies in a joint statement.
Strategic Impact on African Media
Canal+, owned by French conglomerate Vivendi SE, already operates in 25 African countries with over 8 million subscribers. By absorbing MultiChoice’s 14.5 million users across 50+ countries, it cements its place as the leading pay-TV provider in sub-Saharan Africa.
Key platforms now under Canal+ control include:
The acquisition allows the merging of Canal+’s French-language content with MultiChoice’s English and Portuguese programming, creating a multilingual media giant positioned to challenge Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+.
“The combined group will benefit from enhanced scale, greater exposure to high-growth markets, and the ability to deliver meaningful synergies,” stated Canal+ CEO Maxime Saada.
Public Reaction
While some celebrated the financial injection into local content, others voiced concern over foreign ownership of African media platforms. On X (formerly Twitter), users questioned how this might affect cultural independence and the future of African storytelling.
Others were hopeful that Canal+ would improve DStv’s offerings, especially in the face of competition from free and cheaper streaming platforms.
What’s Next?
The final stage is approval from the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA). Once cleared, the Canal+–MultiChoice merger will reshape how African content is produced, distributed, and monetized.
The company has ambitions to grow its African subscriber base from 20 million to 50–100 million, with increased focus on:
- Tech innovation
- Local storytelling
- Sports rights acquisition
- Multilingual programming
Whether this becomes a new golden age for African media—or a new wave of European media dominance—remains to be seen.
