Canal+ is a French based pay-tv provider operated by Vivendi that distribute various films, series and TV channels. It is also one of MultiChoice's biggest shareholders and as reported sometime ago are set to merge their operations within Africa
As some readers are aware, Canal+ has acquired numerous stock in the recent years in an attempt to expand their operations. They currently own French broadcaster
Orange SA's film and TV studios alongside M7 Group that is based in Europe.
Most of these assets are being credited as "A Canal+ Company" if not rebranding to Canal+ as yet. Of course, there's questions as to whether a similar fate could be awaiting the DStv and GOtv parent company, MultiChoice.
During the month, Canal+ Group CEO was approached by journalists where he addressed several matters regarding MultiChoice. As reported, he's been given the greenlight to acquire the remaining shares and is currently drawing up a proposal to appease legislation.
"So, you don't discard assets. Unless you have to." What is true is that we're only facing companies [like Netflix, Apple, etc.] that have one brand. And it makes them stronger. But if you ask me today, what would you do? You know, I would definitely not change the brands. They are very strong brands.
As implied these endeavors don't have to happen right away as there was a matter in Austria where
HD Austria had rebranded to Canal+ Austria. The fate of DStv and Showmax will probably be dependent on where they stand with audiences in the coming years.
But from the other portion of the statement, it is also possible that DStv will remain as DStv. Even if they were to subject it to a rebrand, it will probably be what Elon Musk did to Twitter (Now X) majority referring to it as DStv another being the rapid decline in viewers.
There wouldn't be much to salvage if your audience hadn't shown any signs of improvement. The only reason you'd hide under another identity would be cover up those losses as seen with MultiChoice in regards to their premium numbers.
Although DStv and Showmax wouldn't be subject to a rebrand one would need to turn their attention to what comes on these platforms. We don't envision them rebranding KykNET or Mzansi Magic but crediting various shows and films as StudioCanal.
If there's a brand I'd probably wonder about now it would be M-Net as their international endeavors had been reduced in recent years. They had closed 1Magic and Me earlier in the year as the latter had been merged with Showmax (which wind up with 1Max).
If this was M-Net's way of transitioning to Showmax this would be an appropriate time cause unlike SuperSport it's struggling to retain its consumers following increased competition from Netflix and Disney+.
It is true that only two things drive subscriptions, he added. Discounts and sports. When there's a specific game that everyone wants to watch, Canal+ sees a spike of thousands of subscribers.
"(But) not one movie will drive subscriptions. Still, people who like sports, they like cinema. The opposite is not true."
Movies are seen as a prerequisite for subscribers. "And the economics work because you kind of amortise one over the other," says Saada.
Canal+ Group had mentioned that discounts and sports drive subscription cause when one game comes broadcasts the subscription numbers spike but when a movie comes on not one drive in subscription. One of those reasons we should question M-Net's fate.
If anything, M-Net could become Canal+ Premiere with the group of local channels continued to be referred as M-Net. Or like SuperSport it remains on air and Canal+ looks to launch separate TV channels under the company name as seen in other markets.
