Chamwe Kaira
French media group Canal+ has strengthened its control over MultiChoice Group Limited, increasing its shareholding in the South African pay-TV operator to 76.52%.
MultiChoice said Canal+ formally notified the company that it had acquired an additional interest, bringing its holding to 72.46% of ordinary shares in issue. The increase follows Canal+’s ongoing mandatory offer to remaining shareholders, which attracted acceptances for 17.95 million shares. Once these are settled, Canal+’s stake will rise to 76.52%.
The development marks a new stage in Canal+’s gradual takeover of MultiChoice, which began early this year as part of its plan to expand across Africa’s growing streaming and pay-TV markets. MultiChoice confirmed that it filed the required notice with South Africa’s Takeover Regulation Panel under the Companies Act.
The company’s board said it “accepts responsibility for the information contained in this announcement” and confirmed that all disclosures were accurate to the best of its knowledge.
Canal+, a subsidiary of France’s Vivendi Group, has been building its stake in MultiChoice since 2020. The move positions it as a leading player in African entertainment with ambitions to compete with global streaming giants on the continent.
According to MultiChoice’s 2024 annual report, Namibia contributed N$115 million in dividends in 2024, up from N$113 million the previous year. The report said the Namibian business, like other Rest of Africa markets, faces currency risks as weaker local currencies, inflation, and the high cost of imported content and technology, often priced in US dollars, continue to pressure margins.
Statistics indicate that MultiChoice Namibia, which operates DStv and GOtv, has been losing subscribers due to rising subscription costs and growing competition from streaming platforms such as Netflix. The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia reported that MultiChoice Namibia lost about 35,578 DStv and GOtv subscribers between the start of 2023 and the end of 2024.
Earlier this year, MultiChoice Namibia announced price increases for DStv subscriptions effective April 2025, ranging between 6% and just over 8%, depending on the package.
The company has continued to promote local content through a production project now in its second phase, which is creating Namibian films, a lifestyle series, and a documentary. The initiative has involved around 800 local filmmakers and produced 19 films, a lifestyle series, and a documentary.
MultiChoice Namibia describes itself as a local ICT anchor. It operates four branches, employs about 140 permanent staff, works with 33 agents and more than 130 installers, and distributes products and services through over 300 retailers.
