French media powerhouse Canal+ has successfully acquired 100% ownership of MultiChoice Group, the parent company of DStv and GOtv, in a landmark $3 billion (approximately 55 billion rand) deal.
This historic buyout, which secured the remaining 55% of MultiChoice shares not previously held by Canal+, received final approval from South Africa’s Competition Tribunal on Wednesday, July 23.
The Tribunal’s nod came after months of negotiations and regulatory scrutiny and sets the stage for the transaction to be completed by October 8, 2025. However, the approval is contingent on several public interest conditions aimed at protecting South Africa’s cultural and media sovereignty.
For Canal+, the acquisition marks a strategic leap into Africa’s vibrant and fast-growing media landscape.
Already present in 25 African countries with over 8 million subscribers, Canal+ is now positioned to rapidly scale its footprint, targeting an ambitious 50 to 100 million subscriber base continent-wide.
MultiChoice, Africa’s largest pay-TV operator, brings to the table over 14.5 million subscribers across 50 sub-Saharan countries and an array of premium platforms including DStv, GOtv, and SuperSport—assets that made it a natural fit for Canal+’s expansion drive.
Describing the deal as game-changing, Canal+ CEO Maxime Saada said, “The combined group will benefit from enhanced scale, greater exposure to high-growth markets and the ability to deliver meaningful synergies.”
One of the merger’s biggest wins is the integration of Canal+’s extensive French-language content library with MultiChoice’s dominant English and Portuguese offerings, creating a multilingual media titan capable of serving Africa’s diverse audiences.
Beyond growth and scale, the acquisition provides a much-needed capital injection for MultiChoice.
The deal is expected to drive investment in local content, technological upgrades, and digital transformation.
In line with regulatory requirements, Canal+ has pledged to invest approximately 26 billion rand over the next three years into initiatives aligned with South Africa’s public interest priorities.
These include maintaining MultiChoice’s headquarters in South Africa, strengthening local content and sports broadcasting, and supporting homegrown creative talent.
In a joint statement, both companies reaffirmed their commitment to the local media sector.
“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 offer of 125 rand per share, valuing MultiChoice at around \$3 billion. With the deal now sealed, Canal+ is set to reshape Africa’s pay-TV landscape, accelerating competition and unlocking the continent’s massive broadcasting potential.
