French media giant Canal+ has received regulatory approval to acquire MultiChoice Group, the parent company of DStv and GOtv.
This clearance follows a review by South Africa’s Takeover Regulation Panel, which declared Canal+’s offer unconditional. The deal allows Canal+ to assume full control of MultiChoice’s operations across Africa.
Canal+ had steadily increased its stake in MultiChoice over the past two years, triggering a mandatory buyout offer under South African law. The acquisition, now approved, positions Canal+ as a dominant force in Africa’s pay-TV and streaming landscape. MultiChoice operates in over 50 African countries, with strong market presence through its satellite and digital terrestrial platforms.
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The companies stated that the acquisition will combine Canal+’s global media expertise with MultiChoice’s local market experience. They plan to expand content offerings, enhance technology infrastructure, and grow subscription services across the continent.
Canal+ emphasized that the transaction will help build a pan-African media powerhouse capable of competing with global streaming giants. The deal also includes Showmax, MultiChoice’s video-on-demand platform, which recently partnered with NBCUniversal and Comcast to improve content offerings.
Analysts view the acquisition as a strategic move to consolidate media operations across key African markets. It is expected to bring more localized content, improved service delivery, and possibly more competitive pricing.
Canal+ will now work on completing integration processes and aligning management structures. With full ownership, the group is set to accelerate its push into digital streaming and content distribution in Africa’s rapidly evolving media ecosystem.
