MultiChoice becomes Canal+ subsidiary after acquisition closes

MultiChoice has officially become a wholly owned subsidiary of French media company Canal+, completing one of the biggest media acquisitions involving an African company. 

The deal brings the South African pay-TV operator into a global media group with operations in 70 countries, giving MultiChoice broader access to international content, technology and financial resources as competition across Africa’s television and streaming markets continues to grow. 

Announcing the completion of the transaction on Thursday, Canal+ Africa and MultiChoice Chief Executive Officer David Mignot said the acquisition marks the beginning of a new chapter for the broadcaster.

 “MultiChoice is now a full subsidiary of a truly international media group operating in 70 countries,” Mignot said in a statement. 

“The group was founded in France, is listed in London and Johannesburg, and has a strong African presence with operations in more than 45 countries.” 

Canal+ expands African entertainment footprint

MultiChoice serves over 23 millions of households across sub-Saharan Africa through its DStv and GOtv platforms, alongside streaming service Showmax. Canal+ said combining the two businesses will strengthen MultiChoice’s ability to compete by expanding access to technology, content partnerships, operational expertise and international distribution. 

The company added that the acquisition reinforces its long-term commitment to Africa and is expected to support further investment in locally produced programming, sports broadcasting and streaming services as consumer demand increasingly shifts toward digital entertainment.

Stronger position in streaming race 

The acquisition comes as traditional pay-TV operators face changing viewing habits and growing competition from global streaming platforms including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney+. 

For Canal+, the deal significantly expands its presence across Africa by giving it full control of a business operating in more than 45 countries. For MultiChoice, it provides the backing of a larger international media company at a time when broadcasters are adapting to a rapidly changing entertainment landscape. 

Canal+ completes MultiChoice ownership transition

Canal+ began building its stake in MultiChoice in 2024 before crossing the regulatory ownership threshold and launching a mandatory offer for the remaining shares of the Johannesburg-listed broadcaster in April that year. 

Following shareholder acceptance and regulatory approvals, Canal+ secured control of MultiChoice in 2025 and has now completed the final steps to make the broadcaster a wholly owned subsidiary. 

The completion follows Canal+’s recent debut on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange through a secondary listing, a move that came after closing the multibillion-dollar MultiChoice transaction. 

The acquisition underscores a broader shift across the global media industry as companies pursue larger audiences, stronger content libraries and greater scale to compete in an increasingly streaming-focused market.