Canal+ is expanding its play in the African pay-TV market after proposing to buy a majority stake in Mauritius-based MC Vision. The French-owned media giant wants to double its ownership of the pay TV from 37 per cent to 75 per cent, pending regulatory approvals. The acquisition, once approved, would make MC Vision Canal’s latest acquisition in its aggressive expansion bid in Africa. The move is similar to the recent one involving South Africa’s MutiChoice where Canal+ increased its stake to 45.2 per cent in the broadcasting company. Canal+ has made no secret of its intention to fully acquire MutiChoice, which could further consolidate its control over the African pay-TV market. MC Vision is but the latest in a string of acquisitions in Africa. In 2019, Canal+ bought Nigeria’s ROK Studios to distribute Nollywood content, and increased its foothold in Rwanda after acquiring Zacu Entertainment. Canal+ has 8.1 million subscribers in Africa alone. In comparison, its closest competitor, Chinese-owned StarTimes has 13 million subscribers from its digital broadcasting business. However, Canal’s pay-TV play is particularly evident in French-speaking African countries where it operates in Senegal, Ivory Coast, Guinea, Cameroon—and now, Mauritius. The acquisition of MC Vision, one of the largest pay-TV operators in Mauritius with a 13% market revenue capture, is a coup for Canal+. The deal grants the company distribution access and closer oversight of MC Vision’s 100 channels, which offer sports content, movies, documentaries, and other subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) services. Canal+ is steadily monopolising Africa’s broadcasting market by cannibalising smaller pay-TVs. With that level of control in its hands, it’s hard to predict where the quality of local content production and streaming will swing next.
