French media giant Canal+, a subsidiary of Vivendi, has officially taken effective control of South Africa’s MultiChoice Group in a deal valued at around R35 billion (approximately $2 billion USD), creating what is described as Africa’s largest media and entertainment platform.
The mandatory takeover offer became unconditional on September 22, 2025, after clearing all regulatory hurdles, including approvals from South African authorities and other relevant bodies. This marks the end of a process that began with Canal+ gradually increasing its stake in MultiChoice over the past few years, culminating in this full acquisition.
Canal+ now directly owns 46 percent of MultiChoice’s shares, with acceptances for an additional 2.2 percent, bringing its effective control to 48.2 percent. As part of the transition, a new board has been appointed, with Maxime Saada, CEO of Canal+, installed as the new chairperson. The MultiChoice group board now includes four new directors, including David Mignot as CEO and Nicolas Dandoy as Chief Financial Officer.
Outgoing MultiChoice Group CEO Calvo Mawela has been appointed as the chair of Canal+’s African operations, which includes MultiChoice. Mignot and Dandoy will be the CEO and CFO of Canal+ Africa, respectively.
The outgoing MultiChoice CFO, Timothy Jacobs, will continue to hold a senior position in the combined group’s finance department, the companies said.
The settlement of the offer is scheduled for October 10, 2025, with a detailed integration plan expected in the first quarter of 2026. The merger aims to leverage synergies in content production, distribution, and sports broadcasting, combining Canal+‘s global reach with MultiChoice’s strong presence across Africa, including brands like DStv, GOtv, and Showmax.
Maxime Saada stated in the announcement: “We are excited to begin the integration process, creating a global media and entertainment powerhouse focused on Africa.” He emphasized potential benefits for subscribers, such as enhanced content offerings and sports coverage, though specific changes for DStv users remain to be detailed during integration. This deal positions the combined group to compete more effectively against streaming giants like Netflix and Disney+ in the African market.
Overall, the sentiment on X leans toward neutral to surprised, with a focus on how this might affect pay-TV services in Africa.
