MultiChoice

What MultiChoice does

MultiChoice operates Africa's largest pay-TV platform, delivering satellite (DStv) and digital terrestrial (GOtv) entertainment services to approximately 14.4 million subscribers across 50 Sub-Saharan African markets following a decline from 14.9 million in 2024. The company offers tiered subscription packages ranging from entry-level Access to Premium, with content spanning local productions (Mzansi Magic, Africa Magic, Maisha Magic, Zambezi Magic, Akwaaba Magic), international channels, and premium sports via SuperSport (Premier League, UEFA competitions, FIFA World Cup rights). The technology stack includes the DStv Stream OTT platform (which absorbed the discontinued Showmax service in April 2026), proprietary decoder hardware (Explora, Explora Ultra, Streama), and the Irdeto cybersecurity platform for digital content protection. Distribution is anchored by 122 DStv Service Centres in South Africa, over 2,562 accredited installers across Sub-Saharan Africa, and country offices in 14 markets.

Revenue is generated primarily through recurring monthly subscriptions, supplemented by advertising via DStv Media Sales (which handles commercial airtime across 130+ channel brands), content licensing through M-Net, and transaction fees from the Moment pan-African payments joint venture. Customer segments include African households (primary), sports enthusiasts, African content creators, advertisers, and enterprise merchants using the Moment platform. The company maintains a hybrid go-to-market combining direct-to-consumer distribution through satellite, terrestrial, and streaming with sales-led field operations; Canal+ is deploying over 1,000 field staff across Africa to revive declining sales.

MultiChoice became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Canal+ (Groupe Canal+) in September 2025 following a $3.17 billion (R55 billion) acquisition, and was delisted from the JSE in December 2025. Canal+ subsequently completed a secondary JSE listing under ticker CNP in June 2026. The combined entity operates across 70+ countries with over 40 million subscribers. Post-acquisition restructuring includes approximately 12% workforce reduction, closure of the loss-making Showmax service, channel rationalization, and centralization of sports rights decisions at Canal+ Paris headquarters. The company has committed R20.6 billion to local content investment over three years and R2 billion to customer acquisition including FIFA World Cup 2026 coverage.

Name

MultiChoice

Legal name

MultiChoice Group Limited

Website

https://multichoice.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

MultiChoice operates Africa's largest pay-TV platform with DStv satellite and GOtv terrestrial services across 50 Sub-Saharan African markets, serving 14.4 million subscribers with entertainment, sports, and local content. It is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Canal+ following a 2025 acquisition.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pay Television Services

NAICS

Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (51621), Broadcasting and Content Providers (516)

SIC

Cable & Other Pay Television Services (4841)

akta.pro primary industry

Pay-TV Value-Added Services (DVR, VOD, TV Everywhere, Apps) (MPABAGAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Virtual MVPDs (Live TV Streaming Bundles) (MPABAGAD), Live Sports Pay-Per-View (PPV) & Event Streaming (MPAKAOAE)

Keywords

• Pay television services
• Satellite broadcasting
• Video streaming platform
• Sports broadcasting rights
• Digital media distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Randburg

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices14 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Pay-TV Subscriptions: MultiChoice generates primary revenue through DStv and GOtv subscription fees across multiple package tiers serving over 14 million subscribers in 50 African markets
2. Advertising and Media Sales: DStv Media Sales provides commercial airtime, on-air sponsorships, content integration, and online sales across 130+ channel brands
3. Content Licensing: Licensing of original content through M-Net, Africa Magic, and other channels to international markets
4. Moment Payment Processing: Joint venture fintech processing 600,000 transactions daily for 10 million users monthly across Africa, providing payment infrastructure services to enterprise merchants

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

MultiChoice operates Sub-Saharan Africa's largest pay-TV and video entertainment platform, delivering satellite (DStv), digital terrestrial (GOtv), and OTT streaming (DStv Stream) services to 23.5 million households across 50 markets. It monetizes subscribers through tiered monthly subscription packages, supplemented by advertising sales (DStv Media Sales), content licensing, sports betting (BetKing), B2B cybersecurity (Irdeto), and a payments joint venture (Moment).

Product overview

MultiChoice Group is Africa's leading entertainment platform offering a comprehensive suite of video entertainment, sports broadcasting, digital streaming, and cybersecurity products and services. The portfolio is organized as a platform-plus-modules architecture centered on DStv (satellite TV) and GOtv (digital terrestrial TV) as core pay-TV platforms, supplemented by SuperSport (sports broadcasting), M-Net (entertainment channels), and DStv Stream (OTT streaming that absorbed Showmax's functionality). Additional services include Irdeto (cybersecurity), DStv Media Sales (advertising), BetKing/KingMakers (sports betting), Moment (payments joint venture), and hardware products including DStv Explora and DStv Streama decoders. The company operates across 50 markets in sub-Saharan Africa, reaching over 23.5 million households, and became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Canal+ following its completed acquisition in September 2025.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DStv Stream: Streaming platform for DStv content
• MultiChoice Talent Factory
• Mzansi Magic
• Africa Magic
• Maisha Magic
• Zambezi Magic
• Akwaaba Magic

Products and services

• DStv Sub-Saharan African video entertainment platform providing satellite TV with over 140 channels across sports, movies, series, and local content, delivered via multiple subscription tiers (Access, Family, Compact, Compact+, Premium) to households across Sub-Saharan Africa.
• GOtv Digital terrestrial television platform offering affordable entertainment across 8 African countries with multiple package options, focused on authentic African programming made for African audiences.
• DStv Stream OTT streaming platform providing subscribers access to live TV, sports, and on-demand content, serving as the successor platform that absorbed Showmax's functionality following its April 2026 shutdown.
• SuperSport Africa's premier sports broadcaster producing and broadcasting local and international sport including football, rugby, cricket, tennis, golf, motorsport, cycling, boxing, wrestling, and athletics for pay-TV subscribers across Sub-Saharan Africa.
• M-Net Entertainment channel brand offering nearly 40 channels of international and local content to African customers in nearly 50 countries, with sub-brands including Mzansi Magic, Africa Magic, Maisha Magic, Zambezi Magic, and Akwaaba Magic.
• Irdeto World leader in digital platform cybersecurity with over 50 years of expertise, protecting revenue, enabling growth, and fighting cybercrime in video entertainment, video games, and connected industries including transport, health, and infrastructure.
• DStv Media Sales Advertising sales arm providing dynamic media solutions handling commercial airtime, on-air sponsorships, content integration, and online sales across over 130 channel brands on linear TV, VOD, social media, and digital platforms.
• BetKing Sports betting and entertainment company offering online services in Nigeria and agency services, including sports betting and customized virtual games such as Kings' League and Colour-Colour.
• Moment Pan-African payments platform processing 600,000 transactions daily for 10 million users monthly, providing unified payment solutions enabling enterprises to collect payments across cards, bank transfers, mobile money, e-wallets, recurring debits, and in-person channels.
• DStv Explora Flagship PVR (Personal Video Recorder) decoder hardware for DStv subscribers, with the Explora Ultra variant (launched 2021) additionally offering access to streaming services Netflix and Showmax.
• DStv Streama Compact streaming box supporting 4K video with HDR 10 and Dolby Atmos virtual surround sound for DStv subscribers.
• DStv Internet Internet access service launched in 2021 to provide connectivity to South African homes without access to fibre services.
• Novelas+ Channel Dedicated telenovela channel on DStv and GOtv platforms targeting English- and Portuguese-speaking African audiences with premium drama content from Latin America, Turkey, the United States, and Portugal.

Quantifiable outcome

• 23+ million households served across 50 African markets
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

AI capability6 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and minor.

• SamsungcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 June 2026Canal+ and MultiChoice announced partnership with Samsung to pre-install the DStv Stream app on Samsung Smart TVs across 18 African countries, starting June 2026. This marks the first-ever pre-installation of a MultiChoice Group streaming application on Samsung Smart TVs, covering key markets including South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Angola, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
• Google CloudcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2026Canal+ announced multi-year AI partnership with Google Cloud to deploy generative AI for content indexing and personalization across European and African markets. The partnership will power content search, discovery, and video classification across the combined platform.
• OpenAIcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2026Canal+ announced partnership with OpenAI to power content search and discovery on the Canal+ App starting June 2026, deploying an OpenAI-powered search system for enhanced user experience.
• SkystrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Canal+ announced a three-year co-commissioning partnership with Sky to develop premium English-language scripted content with a minimum of two projects per year. The partnership leverages Sky's drama expertise and Canal+'s combined content library.
• Discovery BankminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Discovery Bank expanded its rewards partnership with MultiChoice's DStv, allowing Discovery Bank clients to earn up to 50% of their DStv subscription costs back in Discovery Miles during promotional periods. Partnership integrates DStv into Discovery's super bank rewards ecosystem.
• LG Electronics South AfricaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026LG Electronics South Africa partnered with MultiChoice to produce 'Make Life Good' reality series, following six change-makers renovating community organizations. Series aired on Mzansi Magic as part of LG's corporate social investment initiative.
• ZANIS TV (Zambia)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2026Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS TV) signed partnership agreement with MultiChoice to onboard ZANIS TV onto the DStv platform, allowing Zambians domestically and abroad to access Zambian media content.
• UEFA (UC3)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Canal+ secured exclusive rights to all UEFA Men's Club competitions across Sub-Saharan Africa for four seasons until 2031, covering Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League. SuperSport retains English and Portuguese-language rights while Canal+ acquired French-language exclusivity.
• betPawaminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026betPawa named headline sponsor for Big Brother Naija Season 11, gaining visibility on one of Africa's biggest reality television franchises with record N160 million grand prize.
• GuinnessminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Returning sponsor for Big Brother Naija Season 11 along with Minimie, supporting one of Africa's largest reality television platforms.
• Gordon's GinminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Gordon's gin brand renewed sponsorship of Big Brother Naija Season 11, extending partnership with brand activations and digital content as part of consumer engagement strategy.
• LIV GolfstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026SuperSport renewed broadcast rights for LIV Golf League for 2026 season, ahead of tour's first event in South Africa at Club at Steyn City in Johannesburg.
• BowmansstrategicImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2025Bowmans advised on Groupe Canal+'s acquisition of MultiChoice Group, recognized as one of the most innovative transactions on the African continent at IFLR Africa Awards.
• MomentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Moment is a pan-African payments platform created in 2023 as a joint venture between MultiChoice Group, UK fintech Rapyd, and venture capital firm General Catalyst. MultiChoice invested in Moment to develop integrated payment infrastructure for Africa, enabling enterprises to collect payments across cards, mobile money, e-wallets, and bank transfers. Moment processes 600,000 transactions daily for 10 million users monthly.
• RapydcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2023UK fintech company Rapyd partnered with MultiChoice and General Catalyst to create Moment, providing the underlying payment technology infrastructure for the pan-African payment platform.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• Canal+: Canal+ is MultiChoice's parent company following the September 2025 $3.17B acquisition. The French media major operates in 70+ countries with 40M+ combined subscribers post-takeover, directly comparable as a pay-TV and content operator in French-speaking Africa and Europe.
• Sky Group: Sky (Comcast) is a major European pay-TV and content operator that entered a three-year co-commissioning partnership with Canal+/MultiChoice in 2026 for premium English-language scripted content. Operates comparable premium pay-TV and streaming business model.
• Comcast / NBCUniversal: Comcast (parent of Sky and NBCUniversal) was MultiChoice's prior partner on the Showmax 2.0 relaunch via NBCU content. Its combination of pay-TV (Sky), broadcast (NBC), film/TV studios (Universal), and streaming (Peacock) makes it a broad comparable for MultiChoice's combined offering.

Direct peers

• StarTimes: StarTimes is the principal direct competitor to MultiChoice across African pay-TV markets, backed by China's StarTimes Group. It offers DVB-T2 and satellite pay-TV services across dozens of Sub-Saharan African countries at low price points, directly competing with DStv and GOtv in price-sensitive segments.

Emerging players

• Netflix: Netflix is the dominant global SVOD competitor in Africa and the primary alternative to MultiChoice's pay-TV bundle. Its mobile-first tier and growing African original content directly compete for the same urban, premium-paying households, and have been a key driver of MultiChoice's subscriber decline.
• Disney+: Disney+ competes with MultiChoice for premium family entertainment spend in Africa, with strong sports (ESPN), family, and Hollywood content that historically anchored MultiChoice's premium tier. Its loss-of-HBO on DStv reflects the broader content competition.
• Amazon Prime Video: Amazon Prime Video is an emerging global SVOD player in Africa with growing sports rights (Premier League in select markets) and original content. It competes for the same premium subscriber wallet share as DStv Premium and DStv Stream.
• Showmax (defunct): Showmax was MultiChoice's own internet-TV service (launched 2015, shut down April 2026) before being folded into DStv Stream. Useful reference for what does NOT work in African OTT — accumulated €370M in losses against Netflix, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video.

Regional players

• Azam TV: Azam TV is a pay-TV operator focused on East African markets (Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Malawi) and competes most directly with GOtv's mass-market DTT positioning. Comparable product (digital terrestrial pay-TV bundles) and customer segment in overlapping geographies.

Others

• SES S.A. SES is a global satellite operator providing transponder capacity and managed services to broadcasters including DStv's satellite distribution. Not a direct competitor but a key infrastructure enabler and adjacent participant in African pay-TV distribution economics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MultiChoice
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCNTmV9W6_2-PC-xkeEH5Zvw
• Facebookfacebook.com/dstvsouthafrica
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/multichoice
• Instagraminstagram.com/dstvzimofficial

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

Subsidiaries8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A3 records

Investments9 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about MultiChoice