By Charles Pemu 
French media conglomerate Canal+ has successfully acquired full ownership of MultiChoice Group, the parent company of DStv and GOtv, in a landmark $3 billion (approximately 55 billion rand) deal. The acquisition, which grants Canal+ the remaining 55% stake it did not previously hold, received approval from South Africa’s Competition Tribunal on Wednesday, July 23.
This pivotal approval, following months of intense negotiations and regulatory reviews, sets the stage for the deal’s finalization by October 8, 2025. While giving the green light, the Tribunal imposed several public interest conditions aimed at safeguarding local content production and maintaining South Africa’s media sovereignty.
For Canal+, this acquisition represents a significant strategic expansion into Africa’s burgeoning media and entertainment market. Already boasting over eight million subscribers across 25 African countries, Canal+ is now exceptionally positioned to scale its presence, targeting an ambitious 50 to 100 million subscribers across the continent in the coming years.
MultiChoice, Africa’s largest pay-TV broadcaster, brings to the table more than 14.5 million subscribers across 50 sub-Saharan African countries, alongside flagship platforms like DStv and GOtv. Its portfolio includes premium content brands such as SuperSport, making it an highly attractive asset for the French media powerhouse.
Canal+ CEO Maxime Saada described the deal as transformative, stating, “The combined group will benefit from enhanced scale, greater exposure to high-growth markets and the ability to deliver meaningful synergies.” A key advantage of this merger is the integration of Canal+’s extensive French-language content with MultiChoice’s dominant English and Portuguese offerings, creating a formidable multilingual media entity capable of serving Africa’s diverse audiences.
Beyond its strategic value, the acquisition provides a timely financial injection for MultiChoice. The deal is expected to infuse fresh capital into the South African broadcaster, facilitating deeper investment in local content production, critical technology upgrades, and digital innovation.
As part of the Competition Tribunal’s conditional approval, Canal+ has committed to investing approximately 26 billion rand over the next three years. These funds are earmarked for initiatives aligned with South Africa’s public interest objectives, including retaining MultiChoice’s headquarters in South Africa, maintaining significant investment in local content and sports broadcasting, and actively supporting local content creators.
In a joint statement, both companies reaffirmed their commitment to the South African media ecosystem: “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 full ownership now secured, the French media giant is poised to redefine Africa’s pay-TV industry, leveraging its vast potential and shifting the competitive landscape.