French media conglomerate Canal+ has acquired full ownership of MultiChoice Group, the parent company of DStv and GOtv, in a landmark $3 billion (approximately 55 billion rand) deal, finalized after approval by South Africa’s Competition Tribunal on July 23, 2025. The acquisition, which grants Canal+ the remaining 55% stake it did not previously own, marks a transformative step for Africa’s pay-TV industry, with the deal set to close by October 8, 2025. The tribunal’s approval came with public interest conditions to protect South Africa’s media sovereignty, including a 26 billion rand investment over three years to support local content creators, sports broadcasting, and job retention.
MultiChoice, Africa’s largest pay-TV operator with 14.5 million subscribers across 50 sub-Saharan African countries, brings flagship platforms like DStv, GOtv, and SuperSport to Canal+’s portfolio. The merger integrates Canal+’s French-language content with MultiChoice’s English and Portuguese offerings, creating a multilingual media powerhouse. “The combined group will benefit from enhanced scale, greater exposure to high-growth markets, and the ability to deliver meaningful synergies,” said Canal+ CEO Maxime Saada. In Nigeria, concerns have emerged about potential subscription price hikes and the impact on Nollywood’s visibility, with the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC) reviewing the deal to ensure compliance with local content regulations.
