According to industry reports, Canal+ SA is exploring launching its streaming application, which partners with Apple TV and Warner Bros Discovery’s HBO Max, for subscribers of the South African pay-TV provider MultiChoice Group, which Canal+ acquired last year.
According to Chief Financial Officer Amandine Ferre in a Thursday interview, “All content is integrated within the Canal+ app, so users won’t need to use a separate application.”
Canal+ took control of MultiChoice, which has a stake in the streaming service Showmax alongside Comcast, in a deal valued at approximately US$3 billion late last year.
MultiChoice primarily operates in southern and eastern Africa, as well as Nigeria and Ghana, while Canal+ already has a foothold in francophone Western Africa.
Ferre noted that no final decisions have yet been made regarding Showmax—MultiChoice’s streaming service—or the potential launch of the Canal+ app in MultiChoice’s operational regions.
Shares of Canal+ rose by 15% in London recently, hitting record highs.
The merged entertainment platform is projected to generate more than US$400 million in earnings before interest, taxes, and amortisation, along with around US$300 million in free cash flow savings by 2030, according to a recent announcement.
Canal+ aims to increase MultiChoice’s subscriber base after the company lost roughly 3 million customers over the past two fiscal years.
The company has already renegotiated contracts for set-top boxes and has offered more affordable units since November, as Ferre stated. “We are focused on pricing strategies and the best packages to ensure competitive rates,” she added.
Additionally, the combined entity has reintroduced NBA content to the SuperSport lineup after an eight-year absence and has added French Ligue 1 football matches to its offerings.
MultiChoice originated from Cape Town-based Naspers, and after being spun off from Naspers in 2019, Canal+ proposed a takeover in 2024. The Canal+ premium subscription costs about US$60 per month.
