The next streaming frontier: Africa’s 1.4 billion viewers are reshaping the entertainment industry, and Canal+ is staking its claim.
The recent milestone, Canal+ acquires MultiChoice, a $2 billion takeover of South Africa’s MultiChoice Group, has reshaped the continent’s pay-TV landscape.
With Netflix commanding over 2 million subscribers in sub-Saharan Africa, Canal+ is leveraging a new Africa leadership model, led by David Mignot, CEO, to fuse local expertise with global ambition, aiming to dominate streaming and traditional TV markets alike. Here’s how Canal+ plans to rival Netflix as of September 2025.
The Merger That Redrew the Map
Canal+, a subsidiary of Vivendi, has long been a force in Francophone Africa through its satellite and fibre TV services.
But the acquisition of MultiChoice Africa’s largest pay-TV operator, known for DStv and Showmax, changes everything.
The deal, which became unconditional on September 19, 2025, gives Canal+ a 48.2% stake and effective control, merging operations across 50 countries and serving more than 40 million subscribers.
This union controls nearly 90% of Africa’s pay-TV market, dwarfing competitors like China’s StarTimes and creating what Canal+ dubs “Africa’s largest digital entertainment platform.”
Why now? Africa’s media consumption is exploding, with internet penetration hitting 43% in 2024 and projected to reach 60% by 2030.
Netflix has capitalised on this with hits like Queen Sono and aggressive pricing, but legacy pay-TV still rules in rural and middle-income households where broadband is spotty.
Canal+’s play? Leverage MultiChoice’s Anglophone and Lusophone stronghold to build a hybrid model: pay-TV for mass reach and streaming for the urban youth.
Unveiling the New Africa Leadership Model
The Canal+ acquires MultiChoice deal has birthed a unified leadership structure, a single Africa Leadership Team based in Johannesburg, blending Canal+ and MultiChoice expertise.
Announced on September 22, 2025, this team is led by David Mignot appointed Canal+ Africa CEO, who drives the vision of “unique, high-quality African stories.”
Alongside him, Calvo Mawela, former MultiChoice CEO, serves as Chairman, ensuring local credibility, while Nicolas Dandoy oversees finances as CFO.
This diverse team, split evenly between Canal+ and MultiChoice veterans, is designed for agility and cultural resonance.
READ ALSO:What Canal+’s Sh245B Acquisition of MultiChoice Means for Africa’s Pay-TV Market
The team is organised into three pillars:
- Operations: Led by figures like Byron du Plessis (PayTV South Africa) and Aziz Diallo (PayTV French-speaking Africa), handling TV, fibre, and tech infrastructure.
- Content: A powerhouse duo including Nomsa Philiso (General Entertainment, English/Portuguese Africa) and Fabrice Faux (Sport and Entertainment, French-speaking), committed to amplifying African narratives.
- Corporate Functions: Covering finance, HR, and public affairs, with talents like Tshepi Malatjie (HR Director) and Keabetswe Modimoeng (Public Affairs, English/Portuguese).
Strategies to Take on Netflix: Local Content, Scale, and Smarts
Canal+ isn’t content with market share; it’s gunning for Netflix’s crown by doubling down on what the American streamer can’t easily replicate: hyper-local relevance. Here’s the playbook:
1. Turbocharging African Storytelling
Netflix spends billions on originals, but Canal+ is pledging to “double down” on homegrown hits. Think sequels to Shaka iLembe, the Emmy-nominated Zulu epic co-produced with MultiChoice, and youth dramas like Spinners.
With 100 TV channels and 10,000 hours of annual content, the new team vows to invest “more in absolute terms” in local productions, backed by South African regulatory mandates for creator opportunities.
David Mignot, CEO’s vision: Export African tales globally, turning the continent into a content exporter rather than an importer.
2. Subscriber Explosion: From 40M to 100M
The goal? Penetrate half of households in key markets, ballooning subscribers to 50-100 million across Africa, Europe, and Asia.
This scale amplifies bargaining power with Hollywood studios and sports leagues, securing premium content at better rates than Netflix’s solo efforts.
Showmax, MultiChoice’s streamer (with a 30% NBCUniversal stake), is set for a revamp in the coming months, potentially integrating Canal+’s myCanal app for seamless pay-TV-to-streaming transitions.
3. Hybrid Tech Edge
While Netflix thrives on pure streaming, Canal+ blends satellite TV for low-bandwidth areas with fibre and apps for urban users.
This “breaking down digital barriers” approach targets underserved regions where Netflix’s data-hungry model falters.
Add advertising via Fahmeeda Cassim-Surtee’s media sales team, and you’ve got diversified revenue streams.
| Strategy Pillar | Canal+ Edge vs. Netflix | Projected Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Local Content | 10,000+ hours/year focused on African stories | Boost retention by 20-30% in key markets |
| Subscriber Scale | 40M+ base, aiming for 100M | Negotiate exclusive sports/deals Netflix can’t match |
| Delivery Model | Hybrid pay-TV + streaming | Reach 70% more rural users |
| Leadership Blend | 50/50 French-African team | Faster innovation, cultural resonance |
A Continental Power Play
Canal+’s new Africa leadership model is more than an operational chart; it’s a blueprint for resilience in a Netflix-dominated era.
By marrying MultiChoice’s grassroots savvy with Canal+’s global influence, the French firm is betting on Africa’s 1.4 billion voices to echo worldwide.
If David Mignot appointed Canal+ Africa CEO’s team delivers on those subscriber targets and content promises, 2026 could mark the year a European upstart humbles Hollywood’s streaming king in the world’s fastest-growing media market.
For African creators and viewers, it’s a win-win: more stories, more choices, and perhaps, more global spotlights.
Ronnie Paul is a seasoned writer and analyst with a prolific portfolio of over 1,000 published articles, specialising in fintech, cryptocurrency, climate change, and digital finance at Africa Digest News.
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