Canal+ Pledges €100M to Resurrect MultiChoice After Sharp Subscriber Slump

French media giant Canal+ has committed €100 million to stabilize and revitalize MultiChoice Group, the operator of DStv and GOtv, following a period of financial and operational decline.

This strategic intervention was unveiled in Canal+’s 2025 financial report, marking one of the first major moves since the French broadcaster finalized its approximately $3 billion acquisition of the African pay-TV leader.

The urgency of the investment follows a difficult 2025 fiscal year for MultiChoice, which saw its subscriber base shrink from 14.9 million to 14.4 million.

Revenue fell by 6% to €2.4 billion, while earnings plummeted by 14% due to severe economic headwinds, including Nigeria’s currency devaluation and persistent power shortages across key markets.

Previous attempts to stabilize the business through price hikes and reduced subsidies backfired, leading to further customer churn.

To combat a projected €140 million loss in 2026, Canal+ plans to hire over 1,000 new sales representatives across Africa to transition MultiChoice toward a more aggressive, sales-driven model.

Additionally, the company is reviewing its portfolio to cut costs, which may include shuttering the struggling streaming service Showmax. A finalized integration plan and further growth strategies are expected to be presented by the end of the first quarter of 2026.