In September 2025, CANAL+ Group, a French media giant, took over Multichoice, inheriting Africa’s biggest pay-TV operator at a time when the business was under pressure. Years of subscriber losses, weak consumer spending and stiff competition from streaming platforms had raised doubts about whether the owner of DStv, Africa’s largest pay-TV service, could return to growth.
Ten months later, CANAL+ says the first signs of a turnaround are showing.
In its half-year results released on Tuesday, the company reported that South Africa recorded its strongest month for new subscriber acquisitions in a decade in June 2026. Subscriber acquisition across MultiChoice markets rose 40% year-on-year, and MultiChoice’s adjusted operating profit surged 160% to €143 million ($162.6 million), helped by lower decoder prices, a broader sales network and early merger synergies.
The results provide the clearest evidence yet that CANAL+’s turnaround strategy is gaining traction. The company must now prove that traditional pay television can remain relevant as consumers weigh the cost of premium TV against streaming platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and YouTube.
“Our strong first-half results reflect our strategic progress,” said Maxime Saada, CANAL+ Group chief executive officer (CEO). “In Africa, we have grown our combined subscriber base by 7%, and as part of the MultiChoice turnaround plan we reduced entry costs for new subscribers and expanded our sales network. In South Africa, we delivered a standout month in June, with the highest new subscriber uptake in a decade.”
