How Comcast Plans To Ditch Several NBCUniversal Channels Affects DStv?

MultiChoice currently supplies channels like Universal TV, E!, Telemundo, Studio Universal, DreamWorks, CNBC and MSNBC from NBCUniversal. As reported, NBCUniversal's parent company Comcast is planning to ditch these channels and make them into a separate company.

Similar to how Naspers dumped MultiChoice and Irdeto now that is being eyed by French broadcaster Canal+. The same potential owner is also being abandoned by its parent company with some of its shareholders joining the spin off and what do all these entities have in common - TV channels.

There are some former DStv customers celebrating right now that more people will likely abandon the platform if these channels ceased to exist when this plans enter fruition. But this is a bad thing yes some would prefer Wednesday or Squid Games on Netflix but there's plenty of people that are still in it for DStv particularly these channels.

Now that Comcast from the looks of things are dumping NBCUniversal probably even Sky Group as majority of their existence centers on these channels. Questions amount to how E! and DreamWorks will survive such in a transaction even Telemundo are their existence centred on originality.

E! has been winding down it's operations in parts of Europe and I can imagine various shareholders in this spun off company looking to simplify it's operations. Then there's DreamWorks even if the plan was to retain the channel it would look unrecognizable in the coming years relying on imports.

Sure Cartoon Network has been doing this for several years but a majority would expect 100% DreamWorks from its own channel. I expect once this spinoff happens for brands like DreamWorks to undergo a name change. This is what happened when Disney acquired FOX they didn't own the trademark like they did it's studios and channels.

Presuming DreamWorks will morph into Universal Kids but then again it all depends on what the higher ups decide at this point I can imagine them looking to simplify their operations. E! has closed down in the UK and parts of Europe more could follow maybe Telemundo as they prioritize other brands.

MultiChoice had already dealt with such a blow from Disney after it closed FOX, FOX Life and Disney XD. None of these brands were replaced leaving an empty void on top of the recent bloodbath of Me as it merged with 1Magic to form a premium channel known as 1Max, we could just be dealing with even less content.

Comcast Plans Massive Cable Spin-Off, Separating USA, MSNBC and More From NBC, Theme Parks

Comcast is planning to spin off most of its cable television networks, including MSNBC and CNBC, into a separate publicly traded company, according to executives with knowledge of the plan.

The spinoff is expected to be formally announced on Wednesday. The Wall Street Journal, which first reported the impending announcement on Tuesday evening, said the involved channels also include USA, Oxygen, E!, Syfy and Golf Channel.

Comcast’s NBCUniversal division is keeping Bravo, the NBC broadcast network, the Peacock streaming service, and all of its other assets, like NBC Sports and the Universal theme parks.

The separate cable channel company will have the same sort of ownership structure as Comcast, but will have its own management team, led by NBCUniversal Media Group chairman Mark Lazarus, who will become CEO of the new venture.

While observers may view the spinoff as an attempt to shed cable channels that are losing value in the streaming age, the channels still contribute strong profits to Comcast’s bottom line. The company’s executives are expected to portray the spinoff as a growth opportunity for an industry in transition, with an eye toward acquiring other channels in the future.

Of course, the standalone cable network venture could also attract buyers as well as sellers. Wall Street analysts are predicting further consolidation of major media companies in the years ahead.

Comcast president Mike Cavanaugh foreshadowed the spinoff during a conference call with investors last month. He said the company was going to study whether it was a good idea to create “a new well-capitalized company that would go to our shareholders” comprised of “our cable portfolio networks.”

The study evidently did not take long.

Craig Moffett, an analyst with MoffettNathanson, told Variety that “investors have yearned for exactly this, or at least something close to it, for years.”

Notably, the spinoff will cleave MSNBC and CNBC, two profitable parts of the NBCUniversal News Group, away from the core news-gathering operation of NBC News. In recent years NBC has tried to bring its broadcast and cable news operations closer together. Now they may be peeled back apart.

WildEarth Might Be Looking To Relaunch On DStv Before The End Of November

During the week, it was reported that MultiChoice might be looking to relaunch a former channel to the DStv platform after removing it alongside 11 other channels during the year. The company has been in pursuits by the French broadcaster Canal+ whose parent company Vivendi is looking to divest from the brand.

Canal+ also offers services in Africa particularly francophone regions where WildEarth is being distributed on those platforms in a separate agreement. Other brands such as Telemundo, Africa Magic Epic, SuperSport La Liga and M-Net Movies 3 and 4 form part of an add-on known as DStv English.

Based on some recent sitings, it appears MultiChoice is looking to add WildEarth to the platform before the end of November as several promotional banners had popped up all of which are slated for the month. We can only assume that they'll be an announcement about the relaunch in the coming days or so.

It wouldn't even surprise me if MultiChoice just placed WildEarth on its channel number and made the announcement on the day it went live. 

This looks to be an exciting development for those who watched the channel but for the rest of the media we're only left with questions. Firstly, why would MultiChoice engage with a company that slandered them on multiple platforms after failing to secure funds to continue packaging the channel through DStv.

Now we're just expected to see all of this unfold without any clear answers on the matter I can only assume that MultiChoice is paying for the carriage of WildEarth. With the brand also offering a streaming hub on YouTube I can only assume with DStv they're probably turn the channel into a promotional window.

Maxime Saada On The Attempted Takeover Of MultiChoice And Canal+'s Rise To Global Dominance

The irony that a French company is set to become the largest flotation in London for more than two years, a time when homegrown corporate successes have shifted to the US, has not been lost on bankers in the City. 

Canal+ is not just any French company, but one that carries deep “cultural significance” across the channel, according to Maxime Saada, who heads the streaming giant and film producer that is part of Vivendi, the media conglomerate controlled by the billionaire Bolloré family. 

Coming just weeks after Canal+ put on the Paddington in Peru premiere in London, the UK stock exchange has rolled out its own version of a red carpet after ministers overhauled and streamlined listing rules for the first time in 30 years this summer. Saada said that London’s markets revamp “to make it as easy, as smooth as possible” was a major factor in picking the UK capital.

Canal+, which has a book value of close to €7bn, is expected to have a market capitalisation of between €6bn and €8bn, said people close to the listing. This would make it the largest primary listing in London since Haleon was spun out of GSK in 2022 at a market valuation of about £30bn, during a period of remarkable drought for a global stock exchange that led to concerns over its rules and lack of domestic UK investor appetite. 

Canal+, which has produced hits including Versailles, is the largest of three businesses being spun out of Vivendi. If a $2.9bn deal to acquire South Africa’s MultiChoice completes early next year, the combined business could be worth as much as €10bn, according to those close to the deal.

With the Bollorés having long argued that the French market’s valuation of the Vivendi business is less than the sum of its parts, the split will test how much more the company’s divisions will be valued separately.

Saada now needs to convince UK investors that Canal+ — like Paddington — has found its right home in London, with plans to use the country as a launch pad for global expansion that he hopes could double the size of the business.

There have been just over a dozen primary listings in London this year, according to data compiled by MKP Advisors, the biggest of which was Raspberry Pi at about £540mm. Bankers struggle to remember the last time that a major French company has crossed the channel for London.

Speaking in an office in the Parisian suburb of Issy-les-Moulineaux that will continue to be the headquarters for Canal+, Saada admits that the decision to relocate the company’s ownership to the London stock exchange disappointed some in the Elysée.

He has sought to allay concerns in France — where it will also continue paying tax — but has also made it clear that the future of the company lies elsewhere, with London bringing greater visibility as a global company and access to international investors. 

“I believe [the French authorities] are relieved that the company headquarters and tax structure is [in] France. We’re not the first French company [to list elsewhere]. Of course, there are some adverse reactions and some people are disappointed. But when we tell our story . . . they understand.”

Canal+ has close to 27mn subscribers to its streaming and TV platforms across 50 countries, of which about 60 per cent are outside France, alongside a TV and films studio arm. In the first nine months of 2024, the company reported a 3.2 per cent rise in revenues to €4.72bn.

“When we look at the path for the future, the partners, the competitors, the markets, the investors, almost all of them are English speaking,” said Saada.

“We used to be a French company, completely relying on the French market for its revenues, its profits, its rights and most of its stuff. And we have transformed into a company that is now international. I cannot say global yet, but that’s the plan.”

M&A will form part of this plan. Adding MultiChoice’s African business, Canal+ will have more than 40mn subscribers; Saada wants to take this to 100mn.

“We don’t want to overextend ourselves, and we’re very careful on the way we spend money. But we need scale. At 27mn [subscribers], you are already a sizeable player. At 40mn/50mn, you are definitely a contender. Higher than that, it’s interesting. That is the only topic.”

Canal+ is already considering taking a majority stake in Asian streamer Viu, while Saada says that Viaplay, the Scandinavian steaming service, could be another potential target. 

Vivendi became the largest shareholder after an emergency recapitalisation of the Nordic media company this year, although it has signed a standstill agreement with the second-biggest investor, the Czech group PPF.

“It’s a possibility. And there are others. If you look at significant pay TV players in the world, there are others. I want to be in a position where we can be a consolidator,” said Saada.

He says that the company was attracted by the new flexibility in rules for the London stock exchange, with the company in effect set to operate a hybrid of French rules allowed under its incorporation in that country and London’s regime.

“We started speaking [with the LSE] about what it means to be a company headquartered in France and listed in the UK. We are the only of our kind, I believe. So it means that not all rules will apply to us.”

These include London’s rules that board members be subject to re-election annually, he said, with Vivendi instead implementing the French standard of more than three years. The Bolloré family will also retain a stake of about 30 per cent in London-listed Canal+, equivalent to what it owns in Vivendi.

As a result, Canal+ is unlikely to be eligible for inclusion in the FTSE 100 rankings. But Saada said that the company was already attracting interest from investors in the UK, even if the company was still not clearly understood by all in the market. He pointed to the need to show the capabilities of the company’s streaming platform, which bundles together content from most of the large US streamers as well as hundreds of live channels and sports. 

Not all existing investors are happy, however. Paris-based asset manager CIAM has raised concerns that minority shareholders will take a hit and that the plan will not close the conglomerate discount. It also warned that the family could also increase its stake without launching a full takeover.

Vivendi declined at the time to comment but a person with knowledge of the situation said the group’s plan “was built on shareholder democracy”.

Saada added: “My focus is, and I believe that is what the Bollorés have proven in the past, to increase the valuation of the company for all shareholders.” 

The decision to split Vivendi is subject to a shareholder meeting on December 9, which requires two-thirds of votes to pass. Saada is confident that it will.

By mid-December, he hopes to be at the front of London’s stock exchange to celebrate its first day of trading. And, despite requests, he says Paddington and his marmalade sandwiches will not be with him this time.

This article was published on Financial Times

"Time Is Of The Essence": Canal+ And MultiChoice Are Rushing To Finalize Acquisition Terms With Local Legislation

MultiChoice continues to struggle financially, and while there are some green shoots, the company is relying heavily on its deal with Canal+ as its future.

However, this deal faces several hurdles, and if it can overcome these challenges, it will take years to go through.

MultiChoice’s results for the six months through September 2024 revealed that the DStv-owner’s struggles persist.

Revenue for the six months declined by 11% to R24.8 billion, operating profit declined by 49% to R2.5 billion, and its loss increased by 102% to R1.8 billion.

The balance sheet also worsened, with MultiChoice remaining technically insolvent. The company’s negative equity increased by 155% to R2.7 billion in the six-month period.

In addition, MultiChoice’s DStv and other subscribers plummeted from 16.7 million to 14.9 million over the last year. This includes a 5% reduction in South Africa and a 15% decline in the Rest of Africa.

MultiChoice has identified some silver linings, and plans are in the pipeline that could improve this situation.

For example, the company is set to close a deal with Sanlam soon that will significantly improve its balance sheet and wipe out MultiChoice’s negative equity.

MultiChoice expects to recognise an accounting gain of R2.6 billion to R3.3 billion from this deal.

In addition, the company said Showmax has reached its investment peak and should soon start to make a positive contribution to the group’s results.

MultiChoice’s streaming platform has been a drain on its results for years, and its recent rebrand saw the company burning cash to make it happen.

In this six-month reporting period alone, MultiChoice invested an additional R1.6 billion in Showmax, even though the streaming platform has yet to break even.

Another major concern for the company is its declining DStv subscribers. For years, MultiChoice has seen its pay-TV subscribers dwindle.

MultiChoice CFO Tim Jacobs told Daily Investor that this was largely driven by pressure coming from the middle market.

This segment has been significantly strained in recent years, as the high cost of living left them little discretionary spending. This saw thousands of households dump or downsize their DStv packages, hurting MultiChoice’s income.

Therefore, MultiChoice needs to make significant changes to remain sustainable, much less return to profitability.

Luckily for the technology giant, it has a potential lifeline – French media giant Canal+, which has offered to buy MultiChoice for an estimated R55 billion.

Canal+ is a significant MultiChoice shareholder and has steadily increased its stake over the past few years.

The company hit the 35% shareholding threshold at the beginning of this year, triggering a mandatory buyout offer. 

After some back-and-forth, Canal+ offered MultiChoice R125 per share, valuing the company at around R55 billion.

Due to its already substantial stake – Canal+ currently owns around 45% of MultiChoice – the buyout will cost Canal+ an estimated R30 billion in cash. 

This cash injection would not only solve many of MultiChoice’s financial woes but also leave the company with a significant sum of cash to reinvest in its business.

In addition, the synergies between Canal+ and MultiChoice’s operations could see the companies rule pay-TV in Africa.

MultiChoice already has substantial reach in Africa, and Canal+’s presence in the continent’s Francophone countries would allow them to essentially control Africa’s pay-TV market.

MultiChoice and Canal+’s current reach in Africa can be seen in the image from The Outlier below. This makes it clear that combining their forces would make both companies the undeniably dominant provider in Africa’s satellite TV market.

Therefore, this Canal+ deal presents a lifeline for the struggling MultiChoice. However, making this deal happen is easier said than done.

For one, Canal+ is a French company, which triggers specific concerns under South African law.

Specifically, the Electronic Communications Act (ECA) is the most important regulatory hurdle that has plagued Canal+ since it started buying up more MultiChoice shares.

The ECA limits foreign control of commercial broadcasting services through strict ownership rules

- A foreigner may not, whether directly or indirectly, exercise control over a commercial broadcasting licensee.

- No more than 20% of the directors of a commercial broadcasting licensee may be foreigners.

Previously, MultiChoice and Canal+ have been able to work around these restrictions through a Memorandum of Incorporation (MOI), where voting rights for foreigners collectively are limited to 20%.

However, a complete takeover of the kind MultiChoice and Canal+ are looking to make happen is an entirely different story.

While not insurmountable, the ECA presents a significant hurdle for this deal.

Another hurdle for this deal will be convincing the Competition Commission that it would not hinder competition in South Africa’s pay-TV market.

MultiChoice has already submitted its application for this deal to the commission.

Jacobs told Daily Investor that MultiChoice is also now in the process of working with Canal+ and the Competition Commission to submit applications in other jurisdictions where this deal would apply, mostly in Africa. 

“There’s no overlap in many of the markets that we operate in. So, we’re not anticipating this being anticompetitive, but we also are aware that the CompCom process takes quite long,” he said.

Looking at previous similar deals that have been through the Competition Commission, it could take years for MultiChoice and Canal+’s deal to be approved or rejected.

Earlier this month, Vodacom received a blow when the Competition Tribunal issued an order prohibiting its investment in Vumatel and DFA-owner Maziv.

While there is still a possibility that Vodacom may appeal this decision, just reaching this point took the competition authorities three years and several hearings spanning 26 days.

This long waiting time is also the case for deals that are not considered anti-competitive.

Heineken’s acquisition of Distell, one of South Africa’s largest alcohol producers, was a major deal that took about two years to gain full approval from the Competition Commission and Tribunal. 

The transaction was first announced in November 2021, with Heineken planning to buy Distell and Namibia Breweries and then merge these assets into a new joint venture. 

After detailed scrutiny and several rounds of negotiations, the deal was finally approved by the Competition Tribunal in March 2023, and the deal finally closed in April 2023.

Therefore, even if MultiChoice and Canal+’s deal gets the green light from both a foreign ownership and competition perspective, it will take years to reach that point.

However, Jacobs said the companies are working with CompCom and the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) to streamline the process and try to close the deal as quickly as possible.

“We don’t think that we need to do any approvals through ICASA, but we are in discussions with them to bring them along the journey and make sure that that their understanding and our understanding are the same,” he said. 

“So, we’re basically working with with both sets of regulators at the moment and just making sure that that everyone is comfortable with what we’re doing.”

Regardless, until this deal is approved or rejected, MultiChoice will need to ensure that its financial position is more sustainable than shown in these latest results since its lifeline may take years to arrive.

This article was originally published by Daily Investor 

Development Alert: WildEarth To Relaunch On MultiChoice's DStv???

During the year, MultiChoice removed a total of 12 channels as the board tries to finalize the pending takeover by Canal+ with local regulators. Some channels to have been removed include One Freestate Televisual, NWTV, People's Weather (now People's Planet) with Me and 1Magic that merged to form 1Max.

WildEarth which formed part of the dozen TV channels to have exited the pay-tv company opted to dissolve themselves from the platform after failing to come into an agreement with MultiChoice. The wildlife channel was facing financial constraints and entered a deal with the company where they could pay for the channel.

After MultiChoice was declared technically insolvent they couldn't keep up to their end of the deal leading to WildEarth's dismal from the platform. Since then, WildEarth continued its operations in the UK and other parts of the world with SafariLIVE distributed on People's Planet.

WildEarth also offers a YouTube subscription similar to the current structure of DStv where consumers are required to pay a fee to get additional content alongside the ad free version.

Now it appears MultiChoice may be looking to reinstate WildEarth as several consumers by had already spotted the feed for the channel on our decoders. We can only assume that MultiChoice might have managed to get their finances in order and could as well look to reinstate another channel e.g. One Freestate Televisual.

Another may be the pending takeover by Canal+, WildEarth serves as one of the various TV channels from DStv distributed by the broadcaster in Ethiopia and other parts of Africa. Other channels on their platform include M-Net Movies 3 and 4, Africa Magic Epic, Studio Universal and Star Life, and part of this had to with its stake in the company. 

If this deal is finalised, we can only assume that the French would want to align/consolidate their content with that of MultiChoice cause with them acquiring they'll obviously want to wind down on expenses. Usually these cuts come from the acquired company with Canal+ that will substitute these cuts with their own endeavours.

As for WildEarth, I can only assume they'll announce something in the coming weeks if not sooner. It is expected to be available on the same packages it was on when it was removed and this includes DStv Premium, Compact+, Compact, Family and Access consumers on channel 183.

MultiChoice Working On Getting Deal With Canal+ Approved

 MultiChoice Chief Executive Officer Calvo Mawela is preparing to take on US streaming giants as the African TV company works to get its approximately $3 billion deal with Vivendi SE’s Canal+ over the line with regulators. 

“A combination gives us a better chance to compete against the global giants,” Mawela said in an interview with Bloomberg TV. “Scale matters in this industry, then you are able to negotiate better rates for content and you are able to generate more revenues, especially with one party operating in French-speaking Africa and one in the English speaking part of Africa.” 

The company has been losing subscribers and struggling with currency depreciation across many of its markets, especially Nigeria, that’s hitting profits and customers’ spending power. A deal with France’s Canal+ would help scale a combined entity to better compete for content and technology needed when going up against dominant platforms like Netflix Inc. and Amazon.com Inc., Mawela said. 

While the companies have been in talks with regulators in South Africa, where local ownership rules may prove to be a serious regulatory hurdle to the deal, the French broadcaster has continued to slowly up its stake in MultiChoice. 

“We put something together that should be acceptable for the regulators, and engagements are ongoing,” he said. “We believe it’s a good story for Africa.”

Africa has a young and fast-growing population that’s an attractive market for streamers, although the continent also struggles with uneven internet access, low incomes and currency volatility. A combination of Canal+ and MultiChoice would create a group with nearly 50 million subscribers and the resources to invest more in local content and sports. 

Multichoice is already working with Canal+ on new productions and the South African company, known for its sports content, is providing its partner with access to English Premier League football matches, said Mawela. The company hopes to boost its sales to $1 billion from its Showmax service in the next five years, he said.

French billionaire Vincent Bolloré’s Vivendi is the a process of breaking up his sprawling media and entertainment empire, and Canal+ is actively preparing its own listing in London. The newly spun-off company may also have a secondary listing in Johannesburg. 

Could Canal+'s Potential Listing On JSE Have Any Implications On MultiChoice?

As some readers are aware, Canal+ is currently finalizing their transaction with MultiChoice after the independent board within the company accepted their transaction to acquire remaining shares of the company. Vivendi, which serves as the parent company to the French broadcaster is looking to divest from the brand by the end of 2024.

Canal+ had promised MultiChoice shareholders an opportunity to invest in the combined entity if their transaction is approved by local legislation before the split occurs. Basically shareholders will be given an opportunity to make more money outside of the Randburg based company which does bring up another agenda - MultiChoice.

If shareholders are able to invest this combined entity with a secondary listing how is one sure that the current structure of MultiChoice will be preserved. Aside from DStv, there's also gambling (BetKing), insurance (NMIS Insurance), streaming (Showmax) and cybersecurity (Namola) and as we all know they're technically insolvent.

Let's say they do end up getting their money's worth through this secondary listing and similar to what Naspers did with MultiChoice by given them an independent listing on the JSE. Whose to say that these investors won't want to reduce their losses.

Canal+ is acquiring MultiChoice and this secondary listing could as well be one way to align M-Net, SuperSport and DStv to the services of its pay-tv operations in other countries as well as StudioCanal. They made it evident since this transaction came forward that they're putting their focus towards content.

Shareholders being investors in the combined entity I doubt they'd object to a merger as Canal+ is putting 45% of their investment towards MultiChoice and also shareholders are making money which is the whole point to all this. 

Die Agentskap 2nd December 12PM

MultiChoice Facing Challenging Period Ahead Of Canal+ Takeover

South Africa’s MultiChoice Group, itself now considerably under the influence of Canal+, has admitted it is facing financial headwinds. It will publish its full numbers on November 12th, but in a trading update issued on November 7th it said it has moved from a profit at the same time last year to a loss now.

The first half of the 2025 financial year, it said, was “negatively impacted by severe pressure in the macroeconomic, foreign exchange rate and consumer environment in key markets, most notably Nigeria and Zambia”. Those headwinds include the pay-TV streaming efforts of Netflix, Prime Video and other on-demand rivals.

MultiChoice, which owns the DStv portfolio of channels as well as SuperSport and Showmax options, described the operating environment as “the most challenging” in the group’s history. Adding to the financial pressures is the huge investment the group has made – and continues to make – in Showmax, its streaming competitor.

“MultiChoice has entered the peak investment cycle of Showmax and expects losses and headline losses per share to increase as a result of the early life cycle of the Showmax business,” it said in the trading update.

Canal+ currently owns a 45.2 per cent stake in MultiChoice and will take full control once the take-over is approved. and is backing the plan to use a combined MultiChoice/Canal+ to create a programming power-house for Africa and beyond.

Canal+ and MultiChoice made a joint ‘merger control filing’ to South Africa’s Competition Commission in October and are discussing the merger with the country’s Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) and other regulatory authorities.

The article was originally published by Advanced Television

How SABC's Proposal To Let MultiChoice Collect TV Licence Affects DStv?

For several years, SABC has been working on a turnaround plan as the company remains technically insolvent one of which the collection of TV licenses through a pay-tv company. MultiChoice remains firm in their decision to prevent such massacre from moving ahead as it would lead to dire consequences for the average DStv consumer.

What prompted SABC to rely on MultiChoice for disposable income is simple as they already make a half a billion in advertising revenue with 4 channels alone compared to eMedia's R140+ million figure. They also have the watched channels not only in South Africa but to DStv consumers.

Even though these channels do add some value to the average DStv consumer MultiChoice created the platform particularly for those hoping to view content from another perspective. Even though Mzansi Magic is lagging behind SABC 1 in numbers, they could as well be at an advantage point if you had to divide those numbers amongst packages.

On the basis of TV license, if the government were to approve plans of enforcing TV licenses to a platform like DStv as mentioned this will lead to dire consequences not only to the average DStv consumer but MultiChoice.

As we've seen in recent years, MultiChoice continues to bleed in DStv consumers as subscriber numbers had dropped to under 8 million subscribers and enforcing this would lead to additional fees. A lot of DStv consumers had been complaining about the rates and these fees will lead another drop and probably destroy the whole DStv structure.

MultiChoice trying to balance DStv and SABC paying consumers will likely have to cutback on content and lose out on potential revenue if it means retaining their consumers. The public broadcaster had stated that the current rates of TV licenses have yet to be adjusted so whose to say that this may not lead to the closure of certain DStv packages.

One of those reasons MultiChoice proposed a household levy in which SARS will take responsibility. But then again this wouldn't help DStv as the average taxpayer will most definitely want to wind down on expenses and who better than DStv as some have stated we pay DStv which carries SABC so there's your TV licence. 

But this is due to the mangled must-carry regulations which hasn't benefited SABC on a fundamental level but to a consumer's standpoint.

Vivendi Board Gives Go-Ahead For Business Split & Sets December Shareholder Vote; Former Paramount CEO Bob Bakish To Join Canal+ Board

Vivendi‘s plan to split its business in three has gotten board approval and will be taken to a shareholder vote on December 9. Should it go ahead, former Paramount Global CEO Bob Bakish will take a seat on the Canal+ board.

The board has approved the resolutions that will be submitted to shareholders to vote on whether Canal+, ad business Havas and publishing house Louis Hachette Group should separate.

Should the demerger go ahead, Canal+ will begin trading with debts of €400M ($433M) and have a corporate team led by Yannick Bolloré, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, and Maxime Saada, Chairman of the Management Board and CEO. Jacques du Puy and Anna Marsh will both be Deputy CEO, and Amandine Ferré will be CFO.

Board members will include Bolloré, Arnaud de Puyfontaine and, intriguingly, U.S. entertainment veteran Bakish, who has been lying low since his exit as CEO of Paramount earlier this year in April. Bakish will comprise one of eight independent members on the 12-strong board.

The Canal+ and Louis Hachette elements of the split will require two-thirds majorities, while the Netherlands-based Havas part will just need a majority. This is due to the changes that will impact the corporate structures of the different businesses.

Should the plan get shareholder approval, the three businesses would begin trading separately on December 16. Each individual stake owner would see shares allotted on a one-to-one bases. In effect, each Vivendi shareholder who participates in the spin-off will receive one Canal+ share, one Havas share and one Louis Hachette Group share, while retaining their Vivendi share.

Under the new structure, Canal+ would be listed in the UK, Havas in the Netherlands and Louis Hachette on Euronext. Each company would operate separately with a “decision-making center of their activities, as well as their operational teams, in France.” Vivendi would remain on Euronext Paris.

MultiChoice Teasing Something Regarding To M-Net 101 And SuperSport For DStv Compact Consumers

As some users had already seen on DStv's social platforms, the pay-tv platform had begun teasing something new for their Compact consumers in November using the hashtag #GetMoreWithDStv. If you look at the teaser below Dune: Prophecy and HBO's Penguin has been spotted alongside SA Cricket.

Kukhulu this November on DStv Compact. 🤩 Stay Connected to #GetMoreWithDStv. 🎁 pic.twitter.com/GaYcvuAyW7

— DStv (@DStv) October 21, 2024

After MultiChoice and M-Net decided to axe/merge both Me and 1Magic to form 1Max consumers on Compact have been left with no alternative options to access the content on DStv. This has led to an onslaught of angry consumers wondering how they'll view content like The Block or Why Women Kill.

With M-Net likely being spotted in this promo, we could only assume that MultiChoice is giving Compact consumers an open window to the channel (if not permanent) as Dune: Prophecy is slated to rollout on the channel in that month. Another would be a possible extension of M-Net's Open Time which takes up half an hour on the platform.

Like we mentioned, MultiChoice had axed Me and I get it all the focus is going to Showmax and Netflix controls how you view TV but DStv still has competition i.e. Openview. Despite offering older seasons to shows like The Voice and 9-1-1, this is currently the only other way DStv consumers without Showmax can access the content.

So why pay for something others can get for free??? All in all this teaser involves M-Net 101

As for SA Cricket, this is something MultiChoice televises on SuperSport Cricket or SuperSport Variety 2 so I can only assume one of the two are going to DStv Compact likely Variety. MultiChoice Africa had merged what we know as Variety 2 onto SuperSport Action during the month.

Then again, SuperSport La Liga is scheduled to air 1 rebroadcast of SA Cricket so I doubt it's that especially with the amount of publicity they're giving this promotion. It would have to be something more meaningful and what better way then the possible extension of Variety 2 to DStv Compact.

Interesting to note, Disney Channel is also said to be undergoing changes in the month of November similar to that of TLC and Nickelodeon. This saw the feed within South Africa divided from MultiChoice's operations in other countries it's what led to a delay in Disney Channel's November highlights in parts of Europe.

Rumour: "Disney Channel Africa" Might Be Rolling Out On DStv Very Soon, Here's Why

As readers have been made aware, TLC Africa was launched on channel 125 for consumers in Southern Africa (not South Africa) after being made available in West and Eastern parts of Africa. This left the main TLC brand on channel 135 to offer a broader range of content such as the transgender reality show I Am Jazz.

Now it appears as if Disney Channel might be also be going under the knife as a duplicate channel had been spotted on the iPlate section. This is where MultiChoice tests out potential DStv channels or upgrades an existing service and of course this version of the channel has slight variations.

Take for instance, Miraculous: Tales Of Ladybug And Catnoir and Big City Greens those are currently in their first seasons while the current feed viewed by consumers are on much later seasons. Monsters At Work and Jessie are currently on the network while this feed has supplemented those with Amphibia and Lab Rats: Elite Force.

If I one had to guess, MultiChoice is probably to separate the operations for these brands as seen with Nickelodeon, M-Net and not long ago. Best case scenario is that this channel will probably be referred to as Disney Channel Africa and occupy channel 313 while the main feed for SA consumers resides on channel 303.

I think the only thing here that has yet to answered is which feed MultiChoice has in development the one I presume will occupy channel 313 or perhaps takeover channel 303. As mentioned, it offers a program like Gravity Falls something that was banned in some parts of Africa of course the channel doesn't have a full schedule.

From the looks of it, this feed will probably takeover whatever is left of channel 303 from 1st November as no EPG had been provided for the channel unlike Disney Junior. Another scenario here is that they're probably going to move channel 303 to 313 for neighbouring countries while introducing this feed on channel 303 in South Africa.

Vivendi And Canal+ Split Set To Be Finalised By Year End

The separation of Canal+ from Vivendi could happen before the end of 2024 after it announced a shareholder’s meeting for 9 December to vote on the plan.

In a statement Vivendi said that Yannick Bolloré had taken note of concerns raised by employee representatives in response to the last December’s feasibity study.

The study was launched amid concern that following the listing of Universal Music Group in 2021 the valuation of the French media giant was suffering. 

Under the plans Canal+ would remain a company incorporated and taxed in France. There is also the possibility of a secondary listing on the Johannesburg stock market, depending on the success of its public tender offer for MultiChoice.

Havas, with the majority of its activities being carried out internationally, would be listed as a Dutch public limited liability company (NV) on the Euronext Amsterdam stock exchange, where Universal Music Group has already been listed. 

A newly named company, Louis Hachette Group, would bring together the assets owned by Vivendi in publishing and distribution, and be listed on Euronext Paris.

Vivendi plans to remain a leading player within the creative and entertainment industries, also listed on Euronext Paris. Vivendi would continue to develop Gameloft and actively manage a portfolio of investments, among them Universal Music Group. It would also provide a number of services to the three companies.

Decisions from the relevant market authorities are expected over the next few days.

Canal+'s Offer For MultiChoice Remains Unchanged As The Company Pivots Toward Streaming

Last month, it was reported that the French broadcaster Canal+ and MultiChoice have begun engaging with local legislation regarding the change in ownership. As part of the agreement, Canal+ would maintain a 45% hold of the company while the remaining 55% goes to various shareholders at MultiChoice.

With its current stake, Canal+ is opting to put all its focus on DStv, GOtv, M-Net and SuperSport as mentioned by the brand's CEO a couple months back. This led MultiChoice to make Sanlam a majority shareholder in their insurance company while others like Irdeto and Namola will probably survive as little investment goes into their operation.

Both these companies are seeking to comply with government's cap to foreign ownership and this could lead to MultiChoice giving Canal+ it's ROA business which is home to brands like Africa Magic and Pearl Magic. As Canal+ seeks local partners to manage the licenses of DStv in South Africa.

MultiChoice SA is putting all their focus on Showmax as their consumer base on DStv plummets hoping to extend its reach to 50 million households by 2028. It's likely that Canal+ will manage their pay-tv operations and serve as a collaborator of some sort to Showmax.

Ideally, it doesn't really seem impossible for them to own these platforms rather than the bulk of channels under their belt which include SABC News and Moja Love as the license holder would be in charge of those brands. If anything, one could imagine Showmax getting spun off into a standalone company.

Right now, neither MultiChoice SA or Showmax can survive without the income coming from DStv which is why they're hoping to skyrocket the number of platforms for the streamer. Although subscriber numbers have yet to be unveiled it has been estimated that Showmax has around 500000 to 3 million subscribers.

MultiChoice's DStv And The SABC Are Becoming A Thing Of The Past

As some are aware, SABC and MultiChoice are on the brink of collapse as their financial woes continues to accelerate. The SABC find themselves having to use most of their income to pay expenses while MultiChoice is trying to find another money maker through Showmax as the pay-tv market deteriorates.

A financial transaction between Canal+ and MultiChoice is the only lifeline for the company so should this deal not move forward it could prove to be challenging to keep the company afloat. Aside from DStv, MultiChoice has other titles under their belt including M-Net, SuperSport, Showmax, Irdeto and Namola. 

As for the SABC, they've been grasping through straws relying on sponsors and other companies to manage the expenses for shows like The Masked Singer SA and Deal Or No Deal SA. Since then, they've been various proposals on how to get the company out of financial turmoil one includes a household levy with another a sale of assets.

While MultiChoice has gambling, cybersecurity and insurance the SABC only rivalled offering for the company is content which in recent years has been under threat. Before a large number of households relied on these companies for a portion of their lineup now there's Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and even TikTok.

Yes, TikTok has become another alternative from DStv and the SABC cause the reality is their lineup don't cater that much to Gen Z and Gen A as these consumers prefer the internet for their indulgence. DStv can say they offer Cocomelon but you get that on YouTube freely while there's a whole generation of viewers estranged to the SABC.

With Canal+ in pursuit of MultiChoice, I think the big question is how they'll be able to grow its value especially with its recent performance. Because of how cable is at this stage, a lot of investors would probably want out of this venture as seen already MultiChoice is eyeing Showmax to manage those losses in DStv consumption.

SABC is planning to introduce some cost cutting mechanisms although they haven't been detail oriented on how they'd go about it I presume one would have to deal with Deal Or No Deal SA which is funded by Primedia Studios. Another would be Muvhango cause after the show was cancelled only to be revived it's production budget was reduced.

Could Openview Get More Subscribers Than DStv?

As some people may have already seen, DStv has lost over 400000 in the last financial year leaving their consumer base to plunge from 8 million to 7.6 million. This is due to the current economic climate which has the average consumer having to wind down on expenses which has becoming an epidemic in other parts of the world.

Netflix would release an entire season of Wednesday or He-Man And The Masters Of The Universe and consumers would try to stream as much of it within a short pan of time. This has even splashed onto DStv when consumers would resubscribe when a major sporting event is on or Big Brother Naija.

Even with Canal+ having to acquire DStv's parent company MultiChoice this wouldn't necessarily improve these numbers but rather lead MultiChoice to rationalize on things like TV channels. These numbers are anticipated to decline which could lead other competitors such as Openview to edge out DStv numbers.

Openview is operated by e.tv's parent company eMedia Investments and has since seen a lot of growth in recent years with its activations reaching over 3.5 million homes almost half of DStv's consumer base. This does lead some to wonder if Openview could eventually have an advantage over DStv with numbers.

Free-to-air broadcasters already dominate the viewership spectrum I mean e.tv pulls over 5 million households and MultiChoice had already been accustomed to not having these figures on any of their brands but DStv was one way to exercise their dominance. So with Openview having close to half these figures could this edge out DStv.

Free viewing hasn't really slowed down in most parts of the world of course that doesn't mean its dependency remains under siege as Netflix continues to be a money grabber. In the UK, Freeview which serves as a free tier has its services in over 18 million homes while Sky the pay-tv counterpart has only 12 million.

Content wise you find that Sky continues to be a dominant player if you're used to getting the freshest content but if you're more prone to a selection of this lineup then Freeview is the best option.

Reminder: MultiChoice Africa Will Be Axing SuperSport Variety 2-4 By Next Week, When Or If MultiChoice South Africa Will Follow?

A few weeks ago, it was reported that MultiChoice Africa will be axing SuperSport Variety 2-4 on DStv after being introduced to consumers in September 2020 alongside SuperSport Select 1-3 on GOtv. The switch is expected to go live from October 9th with SuperSport Action being added to DStv Compact.

SuperSport Africa formerly SuperSport Variety 4 will offer football, athletics, MMA, boxing and wrestling to GOtv Lite and DStv Access consumers on channel 227. While SuperSport Africa 2 formerly SuperSport Variety 3 will launch on channel 228 which offers mainly football to DStv Family and GOtv Max consumers.

SuperSport Variety 2 will be merged into a new repositioned SuperSport Action channel which moves from channel 230 to 226 to DStv Compact consumers. This channel is currently residing on the Compact+ and Premium bouquet offering mixed martial arts and MMA will offer cricket, rugby and tennis.

Questions flooding is how MultiChoice Africa was able to do this without any input from MultiChoice South Africa which is simple as SuperSport maintains two feeds one for Southern Africa with the other for the remaining parts. The content and pricing differs immensely for these regions which brings up another agenda.

SuperSport Variety existence in South Africa could be numbered I mean this is what happened to Novela Magic and Maisha Magic Movies. These were brands that were stripped from consumers within Southern Africa before migrating to other parts of Africa and MultiChoice has a tendency of making changes in phases.

If I had to guess why SuperSport Action is not coming to DStv Compact or SuperSport Variety switching to SuperSport Africa or simply SuperSport has to deal with the content. MultiChoice is probably trying to piece out the structure of these brands and will probably announce it in the coming months if not 2025.

But what's certain here is that MultiChoice may not refer to them as SuperSport Africa but simply SuperSport and revert back to the numbering system if not a local trademark like SuperSport Mzansi. MultiChoice Africa has a lot of channels under its belt with the Africa trademark including TLC, Nickelodeon and M-Net Movies.

Could DStv Be Closing Down In Some Countries?

A few months ago, it was revealed that both Canal+ and Bruh Entertainment PLC that launched a rival platform to StarTimes and DStv in Ethiopia back in 2021 will be closing down by 31 December 2024. This is due to the dominance of free-to-air operators in the region with the French broadcaster putting more focus on existing agreements with BeMedia.

This had led to further speculation that a similar fate could be awaiting DStv as Canal+ tries to completes it's acquisition of MultiChoice. Let's remember, Canal+ is also in pursuit of a rival pay-tv platform in Mauritius after increasing its hold in MC Vision to 75% which is awaiting regulatory approval as well.

Whenever there's a clash it always lead to one of the two getting closed if not sold which is what could be awaiting MultiChoice in the region. Canal+ could look into merging both DStv and MC Vision and build a localized feed as seen in South Africa with their broadcasting license limited to 20% needing local partners to have indirect influence over it's operations.

MultiChoice Africa hasn't been profitable in a long while and on top of massive layoffs Canal+ could as well look into minimizing the pay-tv company's presence in some markets. You'll find some like Mauritius offering MC Vision that could as well be the only reminisce of MultiChoice as they look to package certain brands on those platforms.

Then there could be an instance where MultiChoice follows a similar route as Sony Pictures Television and BBC Studios and explore partnerships to retain portions of DStv I mean the idea wouldn't seem far fetched a stretch. As Canal+ has adopted to similar mechanisms in the areas they reside being both content and pay-tv provider.

"The Bollore Effect": Could SABC News, eNCA And Newzroom Afrika Also Be Impacted By Canal+ Possible Takeover Of MultiChoice?

MultiChoice is technically insolvent a position in which the liabilities weigh more than their assets meaning the company won't be able to cover most of their expenses and could go bankrupt. So they're reliant on Canal+ transaction in order to remain afloat as they take the matter to legislation.

As some readers are aware, there was reports going around about the potential owners Canal+ and Vivendi that similar to MultiChoice would buy up shares in a company before staging a hostile takeover. But most of the attention was pointed toward the editorial staff and the effects this transaction had on them.

eMedia Investments' Openview and StarSat already package the French news channel France24 alongside MultiChoice's DStv in the Eastern and Western parts of Africa. This channel has been subjected to "editorial interference" or as the media would brand this situation "corporate bullying".

The owners in question would force a channel like France24 to express certain views about a topic and failure to abide by those policies would risk that individual their job. Corporate would go about hiring someone who is willing to follow guidelines which is why France24 looks the way it is now.

With Canal+ obtaining almost half of MultiChoice shares there's fear lurking around that SABC News, eNCA and Newzroom Afrika heading down a similar route. Although Canal+ wouldn't own these channels they would own MultiChoice which in turn owns France24 and would want to level the playing field.

With Canal+ already prioritizing C8 and BFM alongside France24 in Africa another fear surrounding these channels would be budget cuts. The first thing that will happen once the transaction concludes would be corporate downsizing with lower to upper management seeing cuts with branches closing down.