Canal+ has bought MultiChoice for $3billion
A French media conglomerate, Canal+, has acquired MultiChoice Group in a $3 billion (approximately 55 billion rand) deal.
Canal+ previously owned a 45% stake in MultiChoice, owners of DStv and GoTV; therefore, the recent acquisition gives it the rest of the 55% stake.
The deal, according to vanguardngr.com was approved by South Africa’s Competition Tribunal on July 23, 2025.
The tribunal’s approval comes after months of negotiations and regulatory reviews, adding that it imposed several public interest conditions to protect local content and maintain South Africa’s media sovereignty.
The deal is, however, expected to be finalised by October 8, 2025.
The Chief Executive Officer of Canal+, Maxime Saada, said, “The combined group will benefit from enhanced scale, greater exposure to high-growth markets and the ability to deliver meaningful synergies.”
As part of the Competition Tribunal’s conditional approval, Canal+ has committed to spending approximately 26 billion rand over the next three years on initiatives aligned with South Africa’s public interest objectives.
In a joint statement, both companies noted their commitment to the acquisition.
“We will maintain funding for South African general entertainment and sports content, providing local content creators with a strong foundation for future success,” they said.
Canal+ started the takeover bid in 2023 with a mandatory buyout offer of 125 rand per share, valuing MultiChoice at around $3 billion.
MultiChoice has more than 14.5 million subscribers in 50 sub-Saharan African countries, as well as flagship platforms like DStv and GOtv.
SSD/AE
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