Canal+ gets conditional approval for MultiChoice takeover
The deal could potentially reshape Africa's media landscape, kicking off a consolidation process aimed at countering global streaming giants such as Netflix.
The deal is transformative for Canal+ as part of its expansion in Africa, particularly in English-speaking regions, while for MultiChoice, it will provide much-needed capital to support its local content and innovation.
'The combined group will benefit from enhanced scale, greater exposure to high-growth markets and the ability to deliver meaningful synergies,' Maxime Saada, CEO of Canal+ said.
Canal+, which was spun off from parent company Vivendi in December, made a firm offer last year of R125 in cash per MultiChoice share that it does not own, valuing MultiChoice at about R55bn.
In May the Competition Commission, which recommends approvals or rejections to the Tribunal, said the transaction was unlikely to substantially lessen or prevent competition.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Maverick
2 hours ago
- Daily Maverick
Who will steer the R55bn marriage of MultiChoice and Canal+?
There's a new power couple in African media. After nearly five years of courting, Canal+ has finally put a ring on MultiChoice to form a pan-African content colossus with global ambitions. French media titan Canal+ has secured the final go-ahead to acquire MultiChoice in a landmark R55-billion deal. After years of quiet manoeuvring and regulatory hurdles, the merger is now a question of who controls what. The Competition Tribunal's conditional approval, granted late last week, closes the chapter on a five-year 'creeping takeover' and opens a new era in African broadcasting. Now it's a balancing act weighing foreign capital with national sovereignty on a digital scale with local content. Enter the media monarchy In return for its princely sum, Canal+, owned by the French conglomerate Vivendi, gets access to MultiChoice's 14.5 million Anglophone and Lusophone subscribers, the DStv powerhouse, sports juggernaut SuperSport, and a foothold in streaming via Showmax. MultiChoice, facing rising costs and subscriber declines, finds itself rescued by a suitor with deep pockets and pan-African ambition. Combined, the merged entity will serve more than 24 million subscribers across 50 countries — instantly becoming the largest pay-TV and streaming provider on the continent. However, if Canal+ was hoping for free access, South African regulators had other plans. The deal's approval came wrapped in layers of red tape — not as a deterrent, but as a deliberate design feature. Transformation goals Central to the regulatory conditions is the creation of LicenceCo, an independent company that will hold MultiChoice South Africa's broadcast licence. It will be majority-owned and controlled by historically disadvantaged South Africans and employees. Crucially, Canal+ has no control and no board seats. This structural firewall protects South Africa's legal requirements around media ownership, ensures transformation goals are met and serves as a template for foreign investment in other sensitive sectors. Phuthuma Nathi, the B-BBEE shareholder darling, increases its economic interest in LicenceCo to 27%, with a new employee trust added. The licence, and the local airwaves it governs, stay South African. The R30bn lobola The Competition Tribunal didn't just demand structural separation; it also extracted a commitment package valued at more than R30-billion. This includes: A three-year moratorium on retrenchments linked to the merger; Significant investment in local content production, sports broadcasting, SMME procurement and Corporate Social Investment programmes; Ongoing free-to-air broadcast access for key sporting events, safeguarding the public's ability to view major matches without a subscription; and Local skills development through Canal+'s 'University Programme', to train historically disadvantaged individuals in broadcasting and production. In a media environment where Netflix and Amazon Prime are increasingly dominant, this local-first approach is designed to future-proof South African media. Showmax, SuperSport and scale Behind the regulatory muscle lies a clear commercial imperative. MultiChoice has struggled in recent years, shedding 2.8 million linear subscribers and burning cash to prop up Showmax 2.0, its streaming reboot built on Comcast tech and bolstered by NBC Universal's 30% equity stake. Canal+ brings financial stability and scale. It also inherits Irdeto, MultiChoice's profitable cybersecurity unit, and Showmax's potential to become Africa's answer to global streamers. Vivendi, Canal+'s parent company, views this merger as critical to its own transformation and part of a plan to split into three listed entities, with Canal+ as its global growth engine. Listing Canal+ on the JSE within nine months of deal completion is a further nod to local inclusion, visibility, and capital market confidence. The shiny ring can't cover controversial holes While South Africa celebrates a structurally sound deal with tangible local benefits, not all observers are convinced. Critics warn that Canal+'s track record and the Bolloré Group's 30.4% stake in it come with baggage. Vivendi's past includes one of the largest corporate losses in history and regulatory infractions that still cast a shadow. Vincent Bolloré, the billionaire behind the curtain, faces corruption charges in France and has been accused of turning Canal+'s French media outlets into right-wing political mouthpieces. With Canal+ now embedded in South Africa's broadcasting ecosystem, some fear creeping influence over editorial independence, particularly if there are future attempts to deepen ownership or control beyond the current firewall. Marriage isn't buying a horse Mergers are easy to announce but hard to manage. However, the competition bodies have played their hand cleverly — extracting commitments, safeguarding jobs and setting a precedent for how global capital must behave when it enters South Africa's strategic sectors. The long-term test lies ahead. Can Showmax truly compete with Netflix? Can SuperSport keep its sports crown as global streamers outbid for rights? Will LicenceCo be a transformative force or a regulatory box-ticker? Will Canal+ respect the firewall, or try to chip away at it over time? The merged entity is now king of the hill in African broadcasting, but it's a kingdom that won't run on size alone. Trust, execution and transformation will be the currencies of success. DM
The Herald
2 days ago
- The Herald
Metro offers debt lifeline for accounts in arrears
Cash-strapped businesses and residents in Nelson Mandela Bay who are drowning in municipal debt have just been thrown a lifeline — a new amnesty deal that could see half their overdue bill wiped out if they settle the balance within a year. The municipality has launched a programme to write off 50% of debts on all residential and business accounts that are in arrears, offering much-needed breathing room. The application for the revenue enhancement programme opened on July 1 and will close on September 30. Debt within the last 24 months will be considered and they must pay 2.5% of their remaining balance upfront. The rest must be cleared within 12 months, in monthly instalments. Those unable to meet the payment terms within the stipulated period would no longer qualify for the amnesty, and their accounts would instead be handled through the municipality's standard credit control procedures. It is open to residential, business and registered NPOs accounts. Budget and treasury political head Khanya Ngqisha said this was not a handout, but a one-off deal designed to help residents recover. Council approved the programme in June. It does not extend to government entities, municipal employees and councillors. As of June, the government owed the metro R23.5m while metro departments owed R1m. He said some residents owed about R1 million — a situation that should never have been allowed. 'This is a lifeline, and those people must thank us because this was a political decision deliberately taken to benefit residents. 'The programme also brings relief to hundreds of small businesses, particularly in township and peri-urban areas, who form the backbone of the local economy but have been crippled by municipal debt. 'This programme is more than just a financial intervention. 'It is an opportunity to rebuild trust between the municipality and its people,' he said. The metro has set a target of reaching an 80% collection rate. In June, the rate was 72.6%, up from 69.9% in February. Debtor management and suspension of services manager Joel Swartz said the lower-value property segment was hardest hit. 'There is a slight increase in performance. However, the rate at which the debt book is increasing vs the rate at which we can increase our revenue flow is where our problem is,' he said. He said revenue collection in the municipality faced several challenges. This included a decrease in the number of ATTP re-registrations and access to municipal meters. 'Access to our meters remains a problem, as well as non-responsive customers. 'Many residents are tampering with electricity, and that has directly had an impact on the financial sustainability of the institution. 'The rapid debt increase of the debt book was also due to the punitive water tariffs, an unintended consequence of the drought period we were in, and that led to lingering debt in our books, which we have seen in unaffordable,' said Swartz. For the 2024/2025 financial year, the council opted to remove the punitive Part C water tariff after the relaxation of the drought regulations. To apply, households must submit a copy of their ID, a payslip, and three months' bank statements. Business account holders must provide a letter of authority, the ID of the authorised person handling the financial arrangement, a one-month bank statement, and their latest audited financial statements. 'It is a requirement of our credit control credit policy for specific financial information to be provided by a customer that concludes an arrangement." The Herald
The Herald
2 days ago
- The Herald
Oudtshoorn's hills to come alive with the sounds of music
It's that time of the year again to head for Oudtshoorn, situated on the edge of the Garden Route, to soak up some classical music and cultural offerings at the Klein Karoo Klassique (KKK). This festival of classical music, art, books, food and wine is being presented for the 16th time in Oudtshoorn, from Friday August 8 to Sunday the 10th, in the town's civic centre. The organisers say a more diverse and exciting menu than ever is in store for 2025, and just a glance at the programme confirms this. A highlight will be listening to 65 choristers from the Voces Cordis Choir as they take to the KKK stage for the first time. Maestro Richard Cock and the Cape Town Festival Orchestra are returning for a Klassique Gala Concert (August 9) and they will be joined on stage by the ever-popular Charl du Plessis Trio and rising opera star Nonhlanhla Yende. The programme includes Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata , opera arias by Mozart and other classics by Vivaldi and Bach. Yende, a mezzo-soprano making waves on SA's music scene, will perform some of the most popular opera arias to round off this memorable concert. Zorada Temmingh is regarded as one of SA's foremost improvisers on the organ, performing works by popular organ composers such as Johann Pachelbel and Léon Boëllmann, along with her own compositions and improvisations on church hymns. She will be playing on August 9. For Alive String Quartet in Concert on August 8 you will find Petrus de Beer (violin), Renée van der Westhuizen (violin), Emile de Roubaix (viola) and Anjulie de Vos-Nock (cello) blending classical and contemporary music with engaging storytelling and compelling narration. Beloved classics by composers such as Vivaldi, Haydn, Beethoven and Piazzolla are included, alongside modern hits infused with a classical touch by The Beatles, Coldplay and more. Then there's a highlight when 65 choristers from the Voces Cordis choir will take centre stage. The production will be conducted by award-winning choir director Andre van der Merwe on August 10. They will be presenting sacred choral works by composers such as Andrey Makor and Jacob Handl, contemporary pieces by Laura Jēkabsone and Jacob Collier, a Latvian folk song, and Didn't My Lord Deliver Daniel by Mia Makaroff. The choir will also share their interpretation of the beloved Afrikaans piece, Voshaarnooi . Choral music enthusiasts can expect an absolute feast, Van der Merwe says. 'Klein Karoo Klassique not only unites the town of Oudtshoorn but also creates a vibrant platform for classical music to be expressed in many forms — whether through voice, piano, organ or strings. 'It celebrates the richness and diversity of the genre in a way that's both accessible and inspiring. 'We're honoured to be part of this long-standing celebration of classical music. 'Many of our singers have known each other — and me — since their teenage years. 'They come with deep musical roots, having sung in world-class children's choirs and competed internationally from a young age. 'This shared history, combined with the depth that comes from lived experience, brings a special maturity and emotional nuance to our music-making,' he said. Van der Merwe is the musical director of the Stellenbosch University Choir (since 2003) and has just returned from the Interkultur European Choir Games and Grand Prix of Nations 2025 competition in Aarhus, Denmark, where they won three gold medals — so it's quite something having him on the Garden Route. He describes working with choral music as incredibly rewarding, because it allows him to witness how music touches everyone involved, from the audience and the singers to the composer and lyricist. 'Each person experiences a piece differently, and as a conductor, I get a front-row seat to that emotional connection. 'Choral music is truly a team effort — every voice, every part plays a unique and essential role in bringing the music to life. 'It's a powerful reminder of how individual contributions come together to create something far greater than the sum of its parts.' The idea for Voces Cordis came about as a merging of musicians who love music. 'Many of those who came to audition were familiar faces — former members of the Pro Cantu Youth Choir, Stellenberg Girls' Choir and the Stellenbosch University Choir. 'It felt like a natural reunion of voices who had journeyed together before, now ready to create something new. This alone inspires our team,' he said. The Little Maestros concert series also returns (August 8 and 9 at 12.30pm) and this time the young audiences will learn more about the harp from harpist Jana van der Walt and Magdalene Minnaar (violin and presenter). This concert, specially designed for the youngest listeners, offers a relaxed environment where little ears can explore music by Mozart, Bach and other beloved classical composers. Each day of the festival begins with a Breakfast Concert at 8am, where classical music is combined with a delicious menu. These concerts are free to attend and will be presented in the Banqueting Hall. Music discussions will follow selected recitals, hosted by Du Plessis. René Scribante has curated a visual arts exhibition under the theme Sacred Pulse, inviting viewers into a sensory dialogue in which sound becomes image and movement transforms into form. Works from both established and emerging artists from the Klein Karoo and greater Southern Cape will be included. A walkabout through the artworks will take place on August 8, at 5pm, in the Banqueting Hall. The Oudtshoorn ReWOLusie invites everyone to join them in knitting and crocheting to make a difference in the community. Oudtshoorn's very own coffee master, Johan Breunissen, will present an exploration of coffee in Africa on August 9, at 8am, in Afrika-koffie vs Afrika-droëwors. RJ Tours will host a Historiese Wandeltoer (historical walking tour) daily at 8am and De Rustica Olive Estate will offer various opportunities for festivalgoers to taste their award-winning olive oil. A limited number of Klassique Packages are available, providing an opportunity for festivalgoers to attend all nine recitals at a saving of more than 20%. Tickets can be purchased online, or at any Checkers, Shoprite, Usave, or the KKNK office. Tickets will also be on sale at the door before recitals. Head for the website to see which accommodation establishments have partnered with the KKK to offer specials. The Klassique Festival Restaurant serves delicious breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, with other delicacies available throughout the day. A selection of wines and LeLude MCC will also be served. Klein Karoo Klassique is presented by the KKNK, made possible by the Rupert Music Foundation and the ATKV, with support from Le Lude and the Oudtshoorn Municipality. For more information, visit or contact the KKNK office via email at info@ or call 044-203-8600, or send a WhatsApp to 065-285-2337.
