Canal+, French Media Giant, Acquires MultiChoice in $3 Billion Deal — Takes Full Control of DStv and GOtv

French media giant Canal+ has officially secured full ownership of MultiChoice Group—the parent company of DStv and GOtv—in a landmark deal valued at $3 billion (approximately 55 billion rand).

The acquisition, which gives Canal+ the remaining 55% stake it previously did not own, was approved by South Africa’s Competition Tribunal on Wednesday, July 23.

The green light follows months of rigorous negotiations and regulatory scrutiny and clears the path for the transaction to be completed by October 8, 2025.

However, the Tribunal’s approval is subject to a set of public interest conditions designed to safeguard South Africa’s media independence and protect the production of local content.

For Canal+, the acquisition marks a significant strategic move to deepen its footprint in Africa’s fast-growing media and entertainment market.

The French conglomerate, already active in 25 African nations and serving over eight million subscribers, is aiming to grow its reach to between 50 million and 100 million subscribers continent-wide.

MultiChoice, Africa’s leading pay-TV operator, currently serves more than 14.5 million subscribers across 50 sub-Saharan African countries through its flagship platforms DStv and GOtv. It also owns popular brands like SuperSport, which have made it a highly attractive acquisition target for Canal+.

Canal+ CEO Maxime Saada hailed the deal as transformative, stating: “The combined group will benefit from increased scale, broader access to high-growth markets, and the potential to unlock meaningful synergies.”

A major advantage of the merger is the integration of Canal+’s robust French-language programming with MultiChoice’s dominant English and Portuguese-language offerings—creating a multilingual media powerhouse tailored for Africa’s diverse audiences.

Aside from strategic expansion, the acquisition also promises a much-needed capital injection for MultiChoice.

The deal is expected to bolster the South African broadcaster’s investment in original content, technology upgrades, and digital innovation.

As part of the Competition Tribunal’s conditional approval, Canal+ has pledged to invest roughly 26 billion rand over the next three years in line with South Africa’s public interest mandates.

These commitments include keeping MultiChoice’s headquarters in South Africa, continuing local content and sports investments, and supporting the country’s creative industry.