Groupe Canal+, the owner of MultiChoice, is reportedly preparing to introduce its own streaming service in South Africa and other MultiChoice markets, potentially filling the gap left by Showmax’s closure on 30 April.
According to MyBroadband, the company has registered South African web pages and domains associated with Canal+. A page at canalplus.com/za was also briefly accessible, displaying a sign-in prompt before becoming unavailable. However, the report acknowledges that these developments do not confirm a launch, and Canal+ did not respond to a request for comment.
The publication suggests the proposed service could follow the model of DStv Stream, incorporating third-party content, including Netflix, while potentially extending access to existing satellite subscribers. Such an approach would mirror Canal+’s strategy in francophone African markets, where its streaming offering has been integrated into a broader pay-TV proposition.
If introduced, the service would mark a significant development in the restructuring of African pay television following Canal+’s acquisition of MultiChoice. South Africa, one of the group’s largest English-language markets, would become an important test of how Canal+ combines its streaming ambitions with MultiChoice’s established satellite television business.
A key question is whether the new platform would become the group’s primary direct-to-consumer offering, encourage satellite subscribers to migrate towards streaming, or operate as an additional service alongside DStv. The strategy could also reshape how international streaming platforms and local content providers are packaged and distributed across the region.
For now, the reported preparations remain unconfirmed. Any assessment of the proposed service will depend on an official announcement clarifying its branding, content partnerships, pricing and distribution strategy.
