DStv, GOtv Now Fully Owned by Canal+ as $3bn Deal Closes

French media conglomerate Canal+ Group has completed the acquisition of the remaining 55% stake in MultiChoice Group, securing full ownership of Africa’s largest pay-TV operator in a transaction valued at $3 billion.

The deal, which received final approval from the South African Competition Tribunal, grants Canal+ complete control of MultiChoice’s extensive media portfolio, including leading platforms DStv and GOtv with over 14.5 million subscribers across 50 African countries. The transaction is expected to be completed by October 8, 2025.

Canal+, a subsidiary of Vivendi SE, had previously accumulated a 45% stake in MultiChoice through open-market purchases beginning in 2020.

The latest acquisition represents a significant consolidation of media assets across the Sub-Saharan region and strengthens Canal+’s strategic presence in emerging markets.

As part of its commitment to the South African regulatory framework, Canal+ will invest approximately R26 billion (circa $1.4 billion) over the next three years in initiatives focused on:

• Local content production and programming

• Maintaining MultiChoice’s headquarters in South Africa

• Preserving employment and promoting transformation initiatives within the sector

In a statement, Maxime Saada, Chairman and CEO of Canal+ Group, described the acquisition as a “strategic milestone” that will enable the group to deliver a diversified, multilingual content offering to African audiences.

“Our ambition is to create a unified media platform that combines Canal+’s French-language content with MultiChoice’s English and Portuguese services, while expanding access to high-quality local programming,” Saada said.

With full ownership of MultiChoice, Canal+ gains control of several prominent media assets including SuperSport, Africa Magic, M-Net, Showmax, and DStv Media Sales.

The expanded network is expected to position the company competitively against global streaming platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+.

Industry analysts note that the transaction marks a significant shift in Africa’s broadcast media landscape, paving the way for increased consolidation, deeper investment in digital infrastructure, and wider distribution of African content across international markets.