French media and communications giant, Canal+, has acquired Africa’s largest pay-TV operator, MultiChoice, in a landmark $3bn (approximately 55 billion rand) deal, gaining full control of DStv and GOtv.
The transaction, which is expected to be finalised by October 8, 2025, received official approval from South Africa’s Competition Tribunal on Wednesday, July 23.
“This deal is transformative. The combined group will benefit from enhanced scale, greater exposure to high-growth markets, and the ability to deliver meaningful synergies,” Canal+ CEO, Maxime Saada, said in a statement.
The acquisition is set to inject fresh capital into MultiChoice, enabling expanded investment in local content production, digital innovation, and technology upgrades.
As part of the approval conditions, Canal+ committed to investing approximately 26 billion rand over the next three years in initiatives aligned with South Africa’s public interest goals.
These include retaining MultiChoice’s headquarters in South Africa, maintaining investment in locally produced content and live sports, and supporting local content creators.
In a joint statement, both companies reaffirmed their commitment to South Africa’s media industry: “We will maintain funding for South African general entertainment and sports content, providing local content creators with a strong foundation for future success.”
Canal+ began its takeover bid in 2023 with a mandatory offer of 125 rand per share. With full ownership now secured, the French media conglomerate, which currently operates in 25 African countries, is set to redefine the African pay-TV landscape, targeting a future audience of 50 to 100 million subscribers across the continent.
