French media giant Canal+ has officially completed its acquisition of South African pay-TV operator MultiChoice.
Gatekeepers News reports that in a joint statement released on Monday, the firms confirmed that Canal+ directly acquired 46 percent of MultiChoice’s shares, alongside an additional 2.2 percent obtained through shareholder acceptances.
The deal, priced at 125 rand per share, gives Canal+ a controlling 48.2 percent stake and has been described as the largest transaction in the sector’s history.
The consolidation is expected to create a combined network of over 40 million subscribers across nearly 70 countries in Africa, Europe, and Asia, supported by a workforce of more than 17,000 employees.
As part of the integration, MultiChoice has restructured its leadership. Maxime Saada, Canal+ CEO, has been appointed chairman of MultiChoice’s new board. David Mignot will oversee African operations as chief executive, while Nicolas Dandoy takes over as chief financial officer.
Calvo Mawela, MultiChoice’s former chief executive, has been named chair of Canal+ Africa. The companies explained that the leadership changes were necessary to align with South Africa’s foreign ownership regulations.
The merger also comes with adjustments to governance structures, including the removal of previous voting restrictions on non-South African shareholders. Canal+ has pledged to continue supporting the production of local entertainment and sports content.
Saada said, “Today marks a significant milestone for Canal+, as we begin integrating MultiChoice to build a stronger group with greater scale, reach, and creativity.”
He added that the combined entity will increase investment in original programming and sporting content across global markets.
Mawela described the merger as an exciting new chapter for Africa’s media industry, while Mignot said the partnership would leverage digital innovation to expand access and amplify Africa’s voice on the global stage.
Canal+ announced that it will provide a detailed update on expected synergies and growth plans in the first quarter of 2026.
The deal follows final approval granted on July 23, 2025, by South Africa’s competition tribunal, paving the way for the successful takeover.
