BREAKING: French Media Giant Canal+ Takes Over MultiChoice in $3 Billion Deal, Gains Full Control of DStv and GOtv

French media giant Canal+ has acquired full ownership of MultiChoice in a $3 billion deal, gaining complete control of popular pay-TV platforms DStv and GOtv.

French media conglomerate Canal+ has officially acquired full ownership of MultiChoice Group, parent company of DStv and GOtv, in a landmark $3 billion (approx. 55 billion rand) deal.

The deal was approved on Wednesday, July 23 by South Africa’s Competition Tribunal, giving Canal+ the remaining 55% stake it did not previously own.

The approval followed months of negotiations and regulatory scrutiny, with the finalization of the deal expected by October 8, 2025. However, the green light comes with several public interest conditions, aimed at preserving South Africa’s media sovereignty and protecting local content.

Describing the acquisition as “transformative,” Canal+ CEO Maxime Saada stated:

“The combined group will benefit from enhanced scale, greater exposure to high-growth markets and the ability to deliver meaningful synergies.”

Already operating in 25 African countries with over eight million subscribers, Canal+ now plans to scale aggressively, targeting between 50 and 100 million subscribers continent-wide in the coming years.

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MultiChoice, Africa’s largest pay-TV broadcaster, boasts 14.5 million subscribers across 50 sub-Saharan countries and is home to premium brands like SuperSport, making it a strategic asset for Canal+ as it deepens its footprint across Africa.

One of the merger’s key strengths lies in combining Canal+’s French-language content with MultiChoice’s English and Portuguese offerings—creating a multilingual media giant serving diverse African audiences.

Beyond strategic positioning, the acquisition brings financial momentum to MultiChoice. Fresh capital injection from Canal+ is expected to drive local content production, technology upgrades, and digital innovation.

As part of the Tribunal’s conditions, Canal+ has committed to investing around 26 billion rand over the next three years in areas aligned with South Africa’s public interest, including:

• Retaining MultiChoice’s headquarters in South Africa
• Continuing investment in local content and sports broadcasting
• Supporting South African content creators

In a joint statement, the two companies affirmed:

“We will maintain funding for South African general entertainment and sports content, providing local content creators with a strong foundation for future success.”

Canal+ launched its takeover bid in 2023 with a mandatory offer of 125 rand per share, valuing MultiChoice at roughly $3 billion. Now, with full control secured, the French broadcaster is set to reshape Africa’s pay-TV industry—leveraging scale, diverse language offerings, and regional expertise to dominate the continent’s rapidly growing media landscape.