Canal+ Completes $3bn MultiChoice Takeover, Secures Full Control of DStv and GOtv

 

Johannesburg, July 24, 2025

French media powerhouse Canal+ has finalized its $3 billion acquisition of MultiChoice Group, gaining full ownership of Africa’s leading pay-TV platforms, DStv and GOtv. The deal, approved by South Africa’s Competition Tribunal on Wednesday, paves the way for Canal+ to dominate the continent’s entertainment landscape.  

The transaction, valued at 55 billion rand, follows months of regulatory review and consolidates Canal+’s position after years of strategic investment. The group, which already held a 45.2% stake in MultiChoice, will now acquire the remaining shares, with the deal set to close by October 8 pending final approval from South Africa’s communications regulator.  

Canal+ CEO Maxime Saada hailed the approval as a milestone, calling it a gateway to deeper penetration in English-speaking African markets. “This acquisition accelerates our growth strategy and reinforces our commitment to the continent,” Saada said in a statement on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.  

The merger combines Canal+’s European resources with MultiChoice’s four-decade legacy, which includes nearly 50 million subscribers and a robust portfolio of local content and sports broadcasting. MultiChoice, spun off from Naspers in 2019, has long been the dominant pay-TV provider in Africa.  

To comply with South Africa’s 20% foreign ownership cap on broadcasting licenses, MultiChoice established *LicenceCo*, a new entity to independently hold its domestic license. The Competition Commission had earlier conditioned approval on Canal+’s commitment to invest in local content and promote South African productions abroad.  

MultiChoice Chairman Elias Masilela framed the deal as validation of Africa’s economic potential. “This investment underscores confidence in our growth strategy and the broader African market,” he said.  

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