• South Africa’s Competition Tribunal reviews Canal+’s proposed acquisition of MultiChoice.
• MultiChoice argues merger will strengthen its fight against Netflix and other international streamers.
• The groups aim to complete the merger by October 8, 2025, pending regulatory approval.

Canal+ and MultiChoice have set a deadline of October 8 to finalize their merger. However, a key hurdle remains: securing approval from South Africa's Competition Tribunal.

The tribunal is scheduled to examine the proposed takeover on July 17-18, according to an official statement shared with the press.

The hearings will include testimonies from several parties, notably the Competition Commission and representatives from the Ministry of Trade. Notably, the Commission has already issued a conditional recommendation in favor of the merger,  but with specific conditions attached.

During the hearings held on Thursday, July 17, MultiChoice argued before South Africa’s Competition Tribunal that a merger with Canal+ would give it the scale required to compete with global streaming giants like Netflix. The company reiterated that it considers Netflix its primary rival and described the playing field as uneven, citing the heavier regulatory constraints imposed on pay-TV providers.

MultiChoice and Canal+ aim to finalize their merger by October 2025. To move forward, they must secure the Competition Tribunal’s approval and prove that the deal — which would become the largest in African television history — will not result in a dominant market position in South Africa.

This article was initially published in French by Servan Ahougnon

Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum