French media giant Canal+ has officially acquired full ownership of MultiChoice Group, the parent company of DStv, GOtv, and SuperSport, in a $3 billion (approximately R55 billion) deal. The historic takeover, approved by South Africa’s Competition Tribunal on Wednesday, July 23, hands Canal+ the remaining 55% stake it didn’t previously own, solidifying its dominance in Africa’s pay-TV market.
The transaction marks a major expansion for Canal+, which already boasts a presence in 25 African countries with over eight million subscribers. With this acquisition, the French conglomerate is now strategically positioned to target an ambitious 50 to 100 million subscribers across the continent in the coming years, making it one of the most powerful media entities in Africa.
MultiChoice, Africa’s largest pay-TV operator, brings with it more than 14.5 million active subscribers in 50 sub-Saharan African countries, as well as access to some of the continent’s most popular media platforms, including DStv and GOtv. The company’s premium sports and entertainment offerings, led by SuperSport, make it a valuable addition to Canal+’s global portfolio.
Canal+ CEO Maxime Saada described the acquisition as “transformative,” stating that the newly combined entity will gain unmatched scale, wider exposure to high-growth markets, and the ability to unlock powerful synergies. The merger blends Canal+’s extensive French-language catalogue with MultiChoice’s stronghold in English and Portuguese programming, creating a dynamic, multilingual content powerhouse tailor-made for Africa’s diverse audiences.
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The approval by South Africa’s Competition Tribunal, while a green light for the transaction, comes with strict public interest conditions. These include a commitment from Canal+ to invest approximately R26 billion over the next three years to support local content creation, retain MultiChoice’s headquarters in South Africa, and sustain investment in local sports and general entertainment. The move is seen as a strategic effort to safeguard the country’s media sovereignty while empowering its creative industry.
The deal is also expected to inject new capital into MultiChoice, enabling much-needed investment in technology infrastructure, digital innovation, and the expansion of its local content pipeline. As competition in the African streaming and pay-TV market intensifies, the acquisition positions Canal+ to lead the charge in defining the future of media consumption across the continent.
Canal+ launched its takeover bid in 2023 with a mandatory buyout offer of R125 per share, valuing MultiChoice at $3 billion. Now, with regulatory approvals secured and full control in hand, the company is set to revolutionize Africa’s pay-TV industry, opening a new chapter in cross-continental media dominance.
