French media giant Canal+ has identified Nigeria as a crucial growth market following its full acquisition of MultiChoice in 2025, signaling a major shift in the continent’s pay-TV landscape. As part of the newly merged leadership structure overseeing African operations, the company has appointed K. Omotosho to lead its Nigerian business, a move widely viewed as a clear indication of how strategically important the country has become to the group’s expansion plans.
The combined Canal+ and MultiChoice operation now boasts more than 42 million subscribers across over 40 African countries, making it the largest pay-TV provider on the continent. Despite its scale, the company believes Africa still holds enormous untapped potential. Pay-TV penetration across the continent currently stands at about 32%, while over-the-top (OTT) streaming penetration is estimated at just 4%, leaving significant room for growth in high-population markets such as Nigeria.
To capture that opportunity, Canal+ has rolled out what it calls a “Back to Profitable Growth Plan.” The strategy includes reducing the entry cost of DStv decoders — currently about three times more expensive than Canal+ decoders in French-speaking African markets, simplifying subscription packages and hiring around 1,000 additional sales representatives across English-speaking African countries.
For Nigerian subscribers, the changes could soon be noticeable. Industry watchers say customers of DStv may see new pricing structures and bundled subscription packages introduced in the coming months as the company seeks to strengthen its foothold in one of Africa’s most competitive media markets.
