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The Competition Commission of South Africa has welcomed the Competition Tribunal’s decision to conditionally approve the high-profile merger between French media giant Groupe Canal+ SAS and MultiChoice Group Limited (MCG).
The Tribunal’s ruling, handed down on 22 July 2025, follows the Commission’s earlier recommendation in May that the merger should proceed subject to several public interest conditions.
The merger combines Canal+’s international content production and broadcasting expertise with MultiChoice’s deep-rooted presence in the South African pay-TV market. MCG owns DStv and operates through its subsidiary, MultiChoice (Pty) Ltd, with “LicenceCo” set to be carved out prior to final implementation.
To safeguard local interests, the Tribunal outlined conditions including a three-year moratorium on merger-related retrenchments, R30 billion in local investments, support for small and historically disadvantaged suppliers, and Canal+’s secondary listing on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.
Additional public interest requirements include:
- Enhancing the plurality of TV news content;
- Supporting local export promotion efforts; and
- Improving access to international sporting events for South African audiences.
Deputy Commissioner Hardin Ratshisusu lauded the decision: “The committed expenditure on local content will create vast opportunities for content creators and ensure the merger delivers real benefits to South Africa.”
The merger is expected to not only strengthen South Africa’s media sector but also boost its global competitiveness, especially in the fast-evolving digital and broadcasting landscape.
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