MBABANE – DStv subscribers in Eswatini may soon experience major changes to the shows and channels they access as French media giant Canal+ completes its takeover of MultiChoice. The acquisition, finalised in September 2025, integrates DStv, Showmax, and SuperSport into Canal+ Africa, which is now led by executives including CEO David Mignot.
According to Mignot, South African productions that were previously exclusive to DStv will now reach international audiences through Studio Canal, Canal+’s production arm. Studio Canal operates 19 production companies, manages over 9,400 titles, and distributes content across multiple major markets, primarily in Europe. This move means local productions, from general entertainment to sports, could appear on other Canal+ platforms worldwide for the first time.
Conversely, DStv is expected to gain access to Canal+’s extensive global content library. Mignot said viewers should anticipate shows from American studios and international partners alongside traditional local content. Canal+ aims to position itself as a “super aggregator,” combining streaming services like Netflix, Apple TV+, Paramount+, and HBO Max into one platform while keeping DStv and Showmax brands intact.
The merger will also see continued investment in local productions and support for South African firms controlled by Historically Disadvantaged Persons (HDPs) and Small, Micro, and Medium Enterprises (SMMEs) within the audio-visual sector. Canal+ has pledged to maintain funding for general entertainment and sports content produced locally, ensuring African creators remain a central part of the content mix.
As part of regulatory compliance, MultiChoice Proprietary Limited, or LicenceCo, has been established to hold the broadcasting licence, ensuring foreign shareholders do not exceed the 20% voting rights limit set by South Africa’s Electronic Communications Act of 2005.
The Canal+ and MultiChoice integration marks the largest transaction in Canal+’s history, creating a global media and entertainment company serving over 40 million subscribers across nearly 70 countries in Africa, Europe, and Asia, with a workforce of approximately 17,000. A strategic update detailing content integration and operational plans is expected in the first quarter of 2026.
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