The French media giant Canal+ has launched a sweeping €100 million recovery plan to revitalise MultiChoice, as the African pay-TV leader struggles to stem a significant loss in its customer base.
The intervention follows a turbulent period for the owner of DStv and GOtv.
Official figures reveal that MultiChoice’s subscriber numbers plummeted from 14.9 million to 14.4 million in 2025, a decline fueled by rampant inflation in key markets and a surge in digital piracy.
Consequently, the French media company has confirmed it will inject €100 million into the business to enhance content, simplify subscription packages, and expand distribution channels across the continent.
This strategic overhaul comes at a crucial time for the group, which is currently navigating a “perfect storm” of economic pressures.
In Nigeria and South Africa, MultiChoice’s largest hubs, weakening local currencies have made the cost of purchasing international broadcasting rights prohibitively expensive, leading to frequent price hikes that have alienated long-term viewers.
To combat this, Canal+ intends to recruit 1,000 new sales staff to expand physical distribution in underserved regions, while simultaneously focusing on more flexible pricing to appeal to a growing but financially squeezed middle class.
However, the expansion of the sales force comes alongside a tightening of internal operations.
Canal+ has announced a voluntary severance programvaimed at reducing “overlapping support roles” created by the acquisition.
This restructuring is intended to streamline the two businesses as they integrate.
Furthermore, in a move that has sparked significant industry debate, Canal+ CEO Maxime Saada confirmed the closure of the streaming platform Showmax.
Despite a high-profile partnership with NBCUniversal, the service reportedly failed to turn a profit against the financial might of global rivals like Netflix and Disney+.
Ultimately, this plan marks a definitive turning point for African television. With the combined entity now serving over 40 million customers across nearly 50 countries, Canal+ is positioning itself as a dominant gatekeeper in a market estimated to exceed $15 billion by 2030.
While the success of this €100 million gamble remains to be seen, the strategy signals that the future of the industry will rely on aggressive subscriber growth, efficient business operations, and a renewed focus on local content creation to survive a new, more competitive era.