French TV heavyweight organization CANAL+ has completed a KES261 billion ($2.02 billion) takeover of South African entertainment rival, MultiChoice, following regulatory approvals from the South African Competition Tribunal. Authorities announced that the deal also complied with South Africa's Electronic Communications Act.

The takeover of MultiChoice, which owns entertainment platform DStv, M-Net and SuperSport, was announced on 22 September, 2025.

According to the CEO of Paris-based CANAL+, Maxime Saada, “This combination [MultiChoice takeover] increases our ability to invest in creative and sporting content throughout Europe, Africa and Asia.”

Additionally, the CEO lauded the transaction as “transformative milestone,” noting that it is a vital step forward for "Canal+, as we begin to integrate MultiChoice to create a group with enhanced scale, reach and creativity."

"Our combined company is unique, a true global media and entertainment powerhouse, serving more than 40 million subscribers across close to 70 countries.”

Streaming services

In an update, MultiChoice said its outgoing CEO Calvo Mawela, will be transitioning to work as the Chairman of the Board of CANAL+’s African operations, where he will be steering business strategy.

Following the merger, the competition in the continent's entertainment sector is expected to intensify as CANAL+ faces other global streaming heavyweights such as Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, and Netflix.

CANAL+, which has been a key player in Africa's entertainment scene, has strong presence in over 25 French speaking countries offering pay-TV and a suite of streaming services.

Currently, MultiChoice owns sports broadcaster SuperSport and streaming provider Showmax, which all broadcast across the continent. The entertainment enterprise also has interests in online security outfits Irdeto and Namola, and BetKing, which is a Nigeria-based gambling firm.

MultiChoice deal with CANAL+ was first announced in April 2024, with terms and conditions confirmed two months later.

Public interest measures

As part of the takeover deal, CANAL+ announced that it has committed to “a robust package of public interest measures” such as backing SMEs in South Africa's audio-visual sector that trace their management and control from the country's historically disadvantaged communities.

MultiChoice takeover by CANAL+ has now given rise to a strong player in Africa's media industry with an estimated workforce of 17,000 and millions of subscribers across Africa, Europe and Asia.

The merger unites these complementary strengths, creating a media giant with a workforce of approximately 17,000 and a subscriber base spanning three continents.

The full takeover of MultiChoice by the French firm comes at a time when former's subscriber base in Kenya has suffered massive decline attributable to high monthly subscription costs amid cut throat competition from other providers.

Statistics show that the number of subscribers for Multichoice Kenya services declined by a massive 84 percent to 188,824 in June 2025 from 1.2 million reported in June 2024. 

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