Johannesburg, South Africa – Big wahala don happen for African entertainment scene as French media giant Canal+ don finally waka enter town carry South Africa-based MultiChoice Group for $3 billion. We sabi say dis acquisition don collect full green light from South Africa’s Competition Tribunal on Wednesday, July 23, 2025 after plenty palaver wey people dey wait for.
The deal, wey dey valued approximately 55 billion rand, no come small o. Canal+, wey already hold 45.2% stake for MultiChoice, don decide say e go buy the remaining shares after e don lump wash €1.2 billion ($1.3 billion) since 2020. Na real hustle, my people!
As e be, the transaction go final by October 8, 2025, but e still dey wait for last approval from Independent Communications Authority of South Africa. Canal+ CEO Maxime Saada don shine mouth for di matter, e talk say: “Dis approval by South Africa’s Competition Tribunal na the final stage for di South African competition process and e don clear road for us to wrap up di transaction in line with our previously communicated timeline.” (E no wan miss this deal o!)
As Canal+ dey look to level up dem presence for di Africa media boom, dem wan chop MultiChoice’s 40-year legacy and dem massive subscriber base wey dey near 50 million across di continent. MultiChoice, wey become separate entity from Naspers for 2019, na big player for di pay-TV market. Dem dey provide plenty local content and sports programming through DStv and GOtv.
MultiChoice Chairman Elias Masilela don praise di deal as big vote of confidence for di company’s growth strategy. E talk say: “Di offer from Canal+ dey show sey foreign investors dey believe sey South Africa and Africa dey ripe for growth markets.” (Na so e be o, investors no dey carry last!)
To follow South African rules wey limit foreign ownership of broadcasting licenses to 20%, MultiChoice don create new entity wey dem dey call LicenceCo to carry di domestic broadcasting license by di side, make e no jam foreign hands. Di Competition Commission don even gree give di deal approval with conditions, including investment for local audiovisual content and promoting South African productions go new markets.
