When French broadcaster Canal+ completed its $2 billion acquisition of MultiChoice Group in September 2025, it was more than a corporate transaction. It marked a defining moment for Africa’s entertainment industry, signalling a future where scale, technology and cultural storytelling converge to shape how millions of households across the continent watch, stream and interact with content.
The takeover gives Canal+ control of Africa’s largest pay-TV operator, with more than 20 million subscribers across 50 countries. The ambition, according to Canal+ chief executive Maxime Saada, is to build “a true champion for Africa,” one that can compete with global streaming giants while deepening investment in local voices. But nowhere is the challenge of this bold vision more evident than in Kenya.
Recent figures from the Communications Authority of Kenya, reported by Business Daily, revealed a staggering 84 per cent plunge in DStv’s active customer base after subscription fees were raised. On the surface, this appears catastrophic, but it is less an outright collapse than a dramatic signal of changing consumer behaviour. Many Kenyans have not walked away from the MultiChoice ecosystem; rather, they have shifted how they consume it. Increasingly, viewers are turning to streaming platforms such as Showmax and DStv Stream, which provide flexibility, affordability, and the ability to watch on-demand from mobile devices. In a country where smartphone penetration and mobile data usage continue to soar, this migration makes sense.
Seen in this light, the decline of satellite subscriptions is an opportunity to accelerate its digital pivot. By anticipating these shifts years ago and investing heavily in streaming platforms, the company positioned itself to ride the wave of technological change.
For Canal+, the logic of the takeover has always been about scale and synergy. The French broadcaster dominates Francophone Africa, while MultiChoice is entrenched in Anglophone markets. Together, they can pool resources, share the astronomical costs of sports rights, and commission bigger, bolder productions that resonate across borders. Saada has been clear about the urgency, saying earlier this year that competition does not wait and that moving quickly was critical if Africa was to have a globally competitive media player.
For Kenyan audiences, the immediate experience will not change overnight. Decoders still work, channels remain, and the familiar DStv packages are intact. The real transformation will come gradually, as the combined group channels more resources into original African storytelling, strengthens streaming platforms, and experiments with pricing models that balance affordability with value. Price sensitivity has always been at the heart of Kenya’s entertainment market. The recent hikes that triggered subscriber losses underscore the delicate balance between sustaining operations and keeping services accessible.
Beyond Kenya, the merger is already reshaping the wider industry. Smaller regional broadcasters will struggle to match the scale of a continental giant. Content creators, on the other hand, could see new opportunities, as larger budgets and broader distribution open up. Advertisers, too, stand to benefit from a platform that unites Anglophone and Francophone audiences under one roof, creating the potential for continent-wide campaigns with precision targeting. Regulators are watching closely. In South Africa, approval came with conditions around employment safeguards, support for disadvantaged producers, and commitments to local content. Kenya may well pursue similar guardrails to ensure the deal works in the interests of both consumers and creators.
The company is evolving, moving beyond the traditional pay-TV model to become a multi-platform entertainment provider. For viewers, creators and advertisers, the takeover is neither disaster nor deus-ex-machina. It is a strategic reset. If Canal+ succeeds in marrying scale with sensitivity to local markets — protecting affordability while funding authentic local storytelling — the effect could be transformative and it will define how Africa’s next wave of TV and streaming looks, sounds and feels.
