Major Shake Up Planned For DStv As Canal+ Unveils R1.9 Billion Turnaround Strategy

South African viewers could soon see noticeable changes to DStv, from pricing structures to content offerings, as new owner Canal+ rolls out a sweeping plan to revive the struggling pay-TV giant.

The French media group, which officially took control of MultiChoice in September 2025 after a lengthy acquisition worth more than R50 billion, has now outlined its first major strategy to reshape the business. At the centre of the plan is a €100 million (around R1.9 billion) investment, designed to boost growth, rebuild the subscriber base and restructure parts of the company.

The move comes at a critical moment for MultiChoice, which has been facing declining subscribers, rising costs and growing competition from global streaming services.

Why MultiChoice Is Under Pressure

For more than a decade, MultiChoice experienced strong growth across Africa. Between 2010 and 2023, the company expanded its subscriber base significantly while dominating the continent’s pay-TV market.

But the landscape has shifted dramatically in recent years.

Economic pressure across many African markets, rising inflation and the global shift toward streaming platforms have all weighed heavily on the company’s performance. Canal+ also pointed to the costly transition to online streaming, particularly the earlier struggles with Showmax, as a major factor affecting profitability.

The numbers tell the story. MultiChoice’s subscriber base dropped from 14.9 million to 14.4 million, while revenue declined by around 6%, falling from €2.54 billion to €2.4 billion.

For South African households already dealing with high living costs, subscription services like DStv have increasingly come under scrutiny as families reassess monthly expenses.

A Giant African Media Group

Despite the challenges at MultiChoice, Canal+ says the broader group remains strong.

Following the acquisition, the combined company now operates across multiple markets with around 42 million subscribers, generating revenue of roughly R164 billion and EBITDA exceeding R20 billion.

However, Canal+ has made it clear that fixing MultiChoice is now a top priority.

The company believes the South African broadcaster still holds major potential if its business model is modernised and streamlined.

The Four Pillars Of The DStv Turnaround Plan

To revive the company, Canal+ has developed what it calls a four-pillar strategy focused on content, pricing, sales and restructuring.

Content

Content remains the backbone of the plan.

Canal+ wants MultiChoice to offer what it describes as the most compelling entertainment offering in Africa, combining international programming with locally produced content.

The strategy includes more joint productions, expanded in-house channels and stronger global partnerships. Sports rights will remain a central part of the offering, alongside thousands of hours of African content produced each year.

The group also plans to share content and rights across the broader Canal+ network, potentially giving African viewers access to a wider range of programming.

Commercial Offers

Another major change could come in the way DStv packages and pricing are structured.

Currently, MultiChoice offers up to 17 different packages along with several decoder options. Canal+ believes this complexity makes it harder to market the product effectively.

The plan is to simplify the pricing structure and streamline the packages, creating clearer options for customers.

Lower entry costs are also being considered, including subsidies on equipment such as decoders. The goal is to make it easier for new customers to join the platform.

Sales Expansion

To grow its audience again, Canal+ intends to ramp up sales efforts across the continent.

The strategy includes recruiting more than 1,000 salespeople across MultiChoice’s markets to aggressively target new subscribers.

Combined with equipment subsidies and stronger marketing campaigns, the group hopes to accelerate customer growth and rebuild momentum.

Operational Restructuring

The final part of the strategy involves restructuring parts of the business.

Canal+ plans to standardise operations across MultiChoice’s various markets while shifting the company toward a more sales-driven model.

This will include offering voluntary severance packages to some employees in support roles as part of a wider restructuring effort.

Changes are also expected at Irdeto, MultiChoice’s technology and cybersecurity subsidiary, where a separate restructuring programme is set to begin.

What It Means For South African Viewers

For millions of South Africans who rely on DStv for sport, local content and live television, the changes could reshape how the service works.

Simplified pricing and lower entry costs may make the platform more accessible to new viewers, particularly at a time when streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney+ are gaining ground locally.

At the same time, the renewed focus on sports rights and African content signals that Canal+ still sees DStv’s traditional strengths as key to its future.

The group also plans to list the combined company on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange through a secondary inward listing expected in the first half of 2026. This would allow South African investors to become shareholders in the newly merged media giant.

Whether the ambitious turnaround plan succeeds remains to be seen, but one thing is clear. The future of DStv is entering a new era under Canal+.

{Source:Business Tech}

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