Canal+ Outlines Growth Strategy Following MultiChoice Acquisition

Johannesburg, South Africa – France-based Canal+ Group has outlined its strategy to revitalise MultiChoice Group, citing the company’s strong fundamentals despite recent financial challenges. The announcement comes after Canal+ acquired the South African pay-TV and streaming giant, which faced a challenging operating environment in 2023.

David Mignot, CEO of MultiChoice, confirmed that the company had underperformed in recent years, attributing declines to multiple external and internal factors. These include inflation across African markets, currency devaluation, load shedding in South Africa, and the unprofitable Showmax experiment.

Despite these challenges, Canal+ remains confident in MultiChoice’s long-term potential. The company highlighted that MultiChoice quadrupled its subscriber base between 2010 and 2023, demonstrating its capacity for growth.

“The reason we are confident in MultiChoice’s potential is its continued underlying strength,” said Mignot. “Content remains the primary driver of value.”

Content as a Core Strength

MultiChoice currently operates over 100 local channels tailored for African audiences, including popular brands such as SuperSport. In addition, the company produces around 10,000 hours of locally-made content annually, spanning movies, series, and shows.

“We work with creatives who deeply understand their audience, ensuring our content reflects diverse African cultures and languages,” Mignot added.

Canal+ plans to expand MultiChoice’s international partnerships, working with global streaming giants such as Netflix, Paramount, and Disney, alongside existing collaborations with Warner Bros.

Growth and Strategic Plans

Canal+ intends to restart MultiChoice’s commercial engine between 2025 and 2027, focusing on customer acquisition campaigns and refreshing the content offering with Canal+ material.

Looking further ahead, from 2028 to 2030, Canal+ will focus on:

• Anti-piracy initiatives to protect content revenue
• Optimising marketing and advertising to enhance reach
• Scaling operations to meet growing demand across Africa

“Africa has enormous potential, and we aim to leverage over 30 years of experience on the continent,” said Canal+ Group CEO Maxime Saada. “With the acquisition of MultiChoice, we are now a truly global company.”

Africa’s Long-Term Opportunity

With Africa’s population expected to exceed 2 billion by 2050, Canal+ sees significant growth potential in the pay-TV and streaming markets. The company plans to increase its household reach as electricity access improves and disposable income grows, aligning with the continent’s rising GDP and expanding media consumption trends.