Meet Canal+: The French media powerhouse behind MultiChoice takeover

Canal+ (pronounced “Kah-nal Ploos”) is a French pay-TV company that has been a central player in the European and global media landscape since its founding in 1984. It began as a premium cable TV provider in France but has since grown into a global media empire with operations across Europe, Asia, and Africa.

Headquartered in Issy-les-Moulineaux, France, Canal+ is owned by Vivendi SE, a major French mass media holding company with interests in music (Universal Music Group, before its spin-off), books, advertising, and video games. Vivendi’s broader strategy focuses on acquiring content platforms and distribution networks around the world, and Canal+ serves as a key instrument in that vision.

With over 25 million subscribers globally, Canal+ produces, distributes, and broadcasts television content, and has evolved into a serious competitor in the streaming wars.

Global Reach and Expansion Into Africa

In recent years, Canal+ has made a strategic push into emerging markets, particularly in Africa. The company has expanded rapidly across Francophone Africa, offering affordable pay-TV services with content tailored to local languages and cultures.

Canal+ Afrique, the company’s African division, has become a household name in countries like Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, Cameroon, Burkina Faso, and Mali. It operates satellite TV services, produces African content, and supports local cinema and sports broadcasting.

The acquisition of MultiChoice is part of a long-term strategy to gain dominance across sub-Saharan Africa, including major Anglophone markets like Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa, where MultiChoice has traditionally held sway through DStv and GOtv.

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Why Canal+ Acquired MultiChoice

The Canal+ acquisition of MultiChoice didn’t happen overnight. The French company had been quietly increasing its stake in MultiChoice over several years. By 2024, it already held around 45% of MultiChoice shares, prompting speculation of a full takeover.

The move was officially confirmed in early 2025, when Canal+ announced a $3 billion deal to acquire the remaining shares. By July 2025, South African regulators approved the takeover under specific conditions to protect local control of broadcasting licenses.

Canal+ pursued this acquisition for several reasons:

• To expand its subscriber base across Anglophone Africa
• To integrate Showmax and digital platforms for global competition
• To gain access to MultiChoice’s strong content library and sports rights
• To consolidate pay-TV leadership on the African continent

What Canal+ Owns: Beyond DStv and GOtv

Canal+ is not just a distribution platform—it’s a content powerhouse. The company owns or co-owns several production studios, film libraries, and TV channels, including:

• StudioCanal: A leading European film and television studio, known for producing award-winning content.
• CNEWS: A French 24-hour news channel.
• Canal+ Sport: Dedicated to sports broadcasting including football, rugby, tennis, and more.
• MyCanal: Canal+’s streaming service available in Europe and parts of Africa.

Now, with MultiChoice in its portfolio, Canal+ also controls:

• DStv and GOtv: Africa’s largest satellite pay-TV platforms.
• Showmax: A growing streaming platform.
• SuperSport: Africa’s premier sports broadcaster.
• Africa Magic and M-Net: Home to some of Africa’s most-watched original content.

This combination positions Canal+ as a media juggernaut in Africa, capable of creating and delivering premium content at scale.

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Cultural Impact and Local Content

One of the standout elements of Canal+’s Africa strategy is its emphasis on local content. In Francophone Africa, the company has invested heavily in local storytelling, language dubbing, and collaborations with African filmmakers. It even launched Canal+ University, a training initiative for young creatives across the continent.

With MultiChoice under its umbrella, Canal+ now has the potential to extend this cultural strategy to Anglophone Africa. Viewers in Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, and Kenya may see increased support for local productions, more regional talent on display, and improved quality in African storytelling.

This will not only help retain subscribers but also create exportable African content for global audiences—similar to what Netflix has done with Nollywood and South African thrillers.

Digital Transformation and the Future of Showmax

Canal+ is well aware of the digital disruption facing traditional broadcasters. That’s why one of its key priorities is to transform Showmax into a competitive streaming platform. Already, Showmax 2.0 has been relaunched using NBCUniversal’s Peacock technology, promising better speed, user experience, and affordability.

Canal+ intends to integrate Showmax into a broader strategy that includes:

• Live sports streaming
• Mobile-first content delivery
• Multilingual and subtitled content
• Flexible subscription packages

If successful, this will help Showmax rival platforms like Netflix, YouTube, and Prime Video, especially in Africa where mobile data consumption is growing rapidly.

Leadership and Strategic Vision

The Canal+ Group is led by Maxime Saada, Chairman and CEO, who has been at the forefront of the company’s international expansion. Under his leadership, Canal+ has embraced both traditional broadcast media and new digital ecosystems.

The company’s strategy focuses on what Saada calls the “three Cs”:

1. Content – Produce and acquire premium local and international shows.
2. Control – Own the platforms and infrastructure that deliver content.
3. Customer Reach – Expand access to both premium and mass-market segments.

This vision aligns perfectly with MultiChoice’s footprint and will likely result in deeper investments in infrastructure, talent, and viewer satisfaction across Africa.

What This Means for Africa

Canal+ is not just acquiring a business—it’s embedding itself in the future of African storytelling and entertainment. With its resources, experience, and global content partnerships, it has the potential to elevate African media to new heights.

However, success will depend on whether Canal+ can:

• Respect and adapt to local cultures
• Make content affordable and accessible
• Support innovation in both TV and streaming
• Collaborate with African creatives and regulators

As the dust settles on the MultiChoice deal, all eyes are now on Canal+ to see whether it will transform the African pay-TV market—or simply dominate it.

One thing is clear: the story of Canal+ in Africa is just beginning.