Highlights: The Canal+ group, owned by Vivendi, announced on February 1, 2024 that it had submitted an offer to acquire the MultiChoice group. The French subscription television giant intends to extend its hold on English-speaking Africa by purchasing the South African MutliChoice, present in 16 African countries. There is strength in numbers, Canal+ believes, in the face of American streaming giants like Disney and Netflix. For Canal+ it remains to convince the Board of Directors and the very protective South African authorities.

The Canal+ group, owned by Vivendi, announced on February 1, 2024 that it had submitted an offer to acquire the MultiChoice group. The French subscription television giant intends to extend…

Media: why the French group Canal+ wants to buy the South African MultiChoice

The Canal+ group, owned by Vivendi, announced on February 1, 2024 that it had submitted an offer to acquire the MultiChoice group. The French subscription television giant intends to extend its hold on English-speaking Africa by purchasing the South African MutliChoice, present in 16 countries on the continent.

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The logo of French television channel Canal+ pictured outside a company building in Issy-les-Moulineaux, near Paris, France, August 17, 2022. REUTERS - SARAH MEYSSONNIER

By: RFI Follow

With our correspondent in Johannesburg,

Romain Chanson

Canal+ wants to continue its conquest of the continent. The French subscription television giant wants to extend its hold on English-speaking Africa by purchasing the South African MutliChoice, present in 16 African countries. This other heavyweight owns brands like Super Sport, Dstv or Showmax.

There is strength in numbers, Canal+ believes, in the face of American streaming giants

like

Disney and Netflix. Canal+ already holds shares in MultiChoice but the group now wants to buy everything. Its management was present in Johannesburg to make the announcement. A seduction operation for the Canal+ group which came to submit its letter of intent and show its most beautiful face.

Also read Media Chronicle – When Canal + develops with Africa

For Jacques du Puy, director of Canal + International, the proposal to purchase MultiChoice is natural: “

We have been working alongside each other for more than twenty years in Africa, and we have had exchanges for a very long time because we do the same profession in different territories. It seemed quite obvious to us that we had to come together and invest in MultiChoice.

Unite therefore, to take on the American

streaming

giants . Jacques du Puy continues: “

The two groups, together, have around 50 million subscribers, which is already more respectable compared to large groups. You see, Netflix has 260 million subscribers. And if you take the simple example of a movie or series that you produce for your subscribers, well, obviously the cost per subscriber at Netflix is much lower.

Resisting American platforms

Canal+ and Multichoice can resist American platforms if they invest more in the production of African content, according to Jean-Michel Hutet, associated with the consulting firm Bearing Point: “

But the Americans to date, we cannot say that they are the biggest investors in African content. We see that Netflix is very good for South Korean series, which is very good. But we can't say that there have been any great African successes on Netflix, it's very rare.

For Canal+ it remains to convince the Board of Directors and the very protective South African authorities.

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Media: why the French group Canal+ wants to buy the South African MultiChoice

Media: why the French group Canal+ wants to buy the South African MultiChoice

Resisting American platforms

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