Since its establishment, pay-TV provider CANAL+ Rwanda has been a driving force in the country’s media and entertainment industry. Through innovative solutions, strategic partnerships, and a commitment to quality and community, they are set to continue making a substantial impact in the years to come.
Officially launched on December 1, 2020, in Kigali, Canal+ Rwanda, a subsidiary of CANAL+ International, seeks to enhance and promote Rwanda’s visual and audio arts.
The satellite operator is present in more than 50 countries across Africa, Asia, and Europe. In Africa, it is present in 26 countries—mostly in the western and eastern part—delivering television channels, among other products with more than 8 million active subscribers.
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In an exclusive interview, Sophie Tchatchoua, CEO of CANAL+ Rwanda, discussed the milestones achieved so far, the impact on the local economy and society, technological innovations and coverage, and plans.
"We’ve seen the potential of Rwanda. First of all, Rwanda has made enormous progress on electrification, with a target of 100% of households electrified by 2025.
"For CANAL+, the electrification rate is a key indicator for its business. If there’s no electricity, there’s no TV, and if there’s no TV, there’s no CANAL+ at home.”
The country’s economic growth was also a determining factor in the Group’s decision to launch in Rwanda.
She noted: "We wanted to have Rwanda as a hub for East Africa activities and beyond, including Burundi.”
The CEO highlighted that CANAL+ Rwanda has content in English, French, and Kinyarwanda, with all local channels in full high-definition (HD) quality.
"More importantly, we launched a more specific channel, Zacu TV, in 2022 – the channel airs 100 per cent of content in Kinyarwanda. It’s one of the biggest achievements, specifically to the film and cultural industry to showcase it everywhere and help in promoting the Visit Rwanda initiative.”
Economic and social impact
The economic impact of CANAL+ Rwanda has been substantial. By providing training, financing, and promotion platforms, the company has created numerous job opportunities and supported local talent.
Tchatchoua noted: "How does CANAL+ contribute to the country’s economic development? First of all, by creating jobs, we have created more than 600 direct and indirect jobs, mostly in distribution networks, marketing, and technical fields.
"By investing in the training of the sector through CANAL+ University among others, by paying taxes, by promoting Rwanda through its content on ZACU TV, available in 26 African countries. Finally, having a strong CSR policy.”
The CEO added that on the Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR) policy, CANAL+ Rwanda is deeply committed to three main areas—to promote education, empower women, and the environment— these are the pillars important to the company and the country as a whole.
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Challenges and collaborations
Despite its success, CANAL+ Rwanda has encountered challenges, notably from what the CEO described as "piracy”, encompassing illegal broadcasting that significantly impacted their operations.
She noted: "We’ve been there twice and we left twice in North Africa because of piracy. This means a loss for the business, a loss of the tax to the government, and a loss of jobs to some individuals. It was really a pity. For us, piracy is a threat and a big challenge.
"Locally, we are partnering with institutions such as Rwanda Utilities and Regulatory Authority (RURA), Ministry of ICT and Innovation, and Internet Service Provider (ISP) to find a solution and identify illegal sites where they stream content. This is our major concern just like any other service provider,” she emphasised.
"We accept challenges and fair competition but piracy is really not a good thing.”
CANAL+ Rwanda aims to revolutionise the media landscape further in the future. However, their topmost priority remains combating piracy, while also expanding content to align closely with client demands nationwide.
Technological advancements and coverage
"We have branches across the country to bring services closer to our clients, have access to our services, and be able to renew subscriptions anytime, anywhere. And also, through mobile payment with MTN-Momo or Airtel money. Clients have two ways of accessing our services, through satellite dish or internet using ‘My Canal app’,” Tchatchoua noted.
Among other things, CANAL+ Rwanda has introduced several technological innovations to improve its services. Since its partnership with Tele10 in 2012, CANAL+ has been bringing digital TV services to various parts of Rwanda.
Local channels such as RTV, KC2, and ZACU TV, are all in full high-definition (HD) quality. Channels are now accessible to audiences outside the country, broadening their reach and impact.