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- Canal+, the media giant, has applied to take over DStv and GOtv after completing the acquisition of MultiChoice
- The French firm applied for a change of control of various licences held by MultiChoice subsidiaries
- Reports say essential considerations include pricing, the protection of local content, job security, and whether Canal+ will provide competitive service
Pascal Oparada, a reporter for Legit.ng, has over ten years of experience covering technology, energy, stocks, investment, and the economy.
French media giant Canal+ has formally applied to Uganda’s communications regulator to take over full control of DStv and GOtv operations in Uganda, following its recent acquisition of the entire MultiChoice Group.
Credit: NurPhoto/Contributor
Source: Getty Images
The request involves a “change in control” of various licenses held by MultiChoice subsidiaries, including subscriber management, streaming rights, and infrastructure operations.
Regulatory approval in motion
The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), under law, must assess whether this takeover satisfies public interest requirements.
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UCC officials say that approval is expected by early October, giving stakeholders, including subscribers, broadcasters, and regulators, two weeks to present concerns or comments.
Key considerations include pricing, the protection of local content, job security, and whether Canal+ will provide competitive service or simply replicate current offerings under a different banner.
What’s behind Canal+’s move
Canal+ already owns 45.2% of MultiChoice Group and recently secured permission from South African regulatory authorities to acquire the remaining 54.8%.
Once the acquisition is complete, CF + will control one of Africa’s largest pay-TV and streaming ecosystems.
This deal is seen as one of the most significant in African media: it affects over 50 countries, millions of subscribers, and includes powerhouse brands like SuperSport, M-Net, and Showmax.
The Ugandan context: subscriber Loss and cost pressure
MultiChoice Uganda has seen drop-offs in viewership in recent years. Economic pressures have hit consumers.
Subscription cost increases have also pushed some to drop premium services.
Satellite and digital terrestrial TV providers have lost more than 1.4 million subscribers in Uganda over two years, a decline that regulators and industry watchers say stems from affordability issues and changing consumption habits.
What subscribers care about
For DStv and GOtv users in Uganda, the proposed takeover brings mixed feelings.
On one hand, Canal+ may introduce fresh content libraries, investment in streaming technology, and innovations in user experience.
On the other hand, many fear higher subscription fees and reduced local content.
Regulators will likely press for conditions ensuring that pricing remains fair and Ugandan cultural output isn’t sacrificed.
Linking to recent moves: media & subscription wars
This move comes in a period of intensifying competition in the media landscape.
Earlier, similar shake-ups have come via streaming service expansions and content rights battles.
The MultiChoice-Canal+ deal echoes those trends: global media firms acquiring local operations, then reshaping portfolios to balance profit, content diversity, and regulatory compliance.
What happens next?
UCC will facilitate public participation, allowing citizens and stakeholders to voice concerns.
Canal+ must meet criteria related to licensing, content, pricing transparency, and local stakeholder protection.
Credit: Picture Alliance/Contributor
Source: Getty Images
The deal is expected to be finalised in early October, but many believe the long-term tests will be how affordable and relevant the service remains for Ugandan audiences.
MultiChoice begins testing weekly subscriptions
Legit.ng earlier reported that MultiChoice, owners of DStv and GOtv, has begun piloting weekly subscription plans in Uganda, which will launch in other markets soon if the trial proves successful.
MultiChoice Group CEO, Calvo Mawela, disclosed that the pay-TV company introduced weekly subscriptions seven weeks ago and that they should have a good idea of the trial’s success in the next six months.
According to reports, the trial wants to align subscription periods with customers’ cash flows.
Source: Legit.ng
