Canal+'s MultiChoice Ongoing Battle With Regulators

As noted, Canal+ had been looking to acquire MultiChoice with the deal that was expected to close in April 2025 now aiming for October 2025. The deal currently being scrutinized by regulators is regarded as a larger merger with MultiChoice valued at over R50 billion it would make sense why they couldn't cross their initial deadline.

MultiChoice filed this transaction with regulators by 30 September 2024 and the Competition Commission usually takes about 40 business days but for larger mergers they can extend from 6 months to 12 months with this deal already past 7 months presuming regulators wanted more info about the deal.

Compared to previous larger mergers (e.g. Walmart and Massmart), the MultiChoice deal is the most complex due I mean most others would have this done within 6 months (excluding consultations with the Tribunal). This is due to the ECA which limits decision making to 20% and Canal+ addressed that with LicenceCo.

Others hurdles would have to be the effects this transaction has on competitors (like eMedia Investments) and the economy. MultiChoice has been a dominant force (via SuperSport) but as we've seen in recent years Netflix is starting to catch-up as they've licensed WWE for a number of countries.

If MultiChoice wants to continue outshining Netflix they have to assure this deal gets greenlight between now to early July if they want to meet the October deadline. The tribunal will need 3 months at least if approved to hold public hearings and set the ground work.

Major delays to October would have to be the Competition Commission's recommendation to block the deal or a minority shareholder (like Alan Gray) wanting more money. But if I'm being honest the deal has a moderate to high rate of getting to Scenario A than B.

Scenario A

MultiChoice is in financial distress and serves a responsibility in growing the local landscape. Regulators could greenlight this deal as a means to keep these operations around for the foreseeable future although Netflix is a dominant foe it can't replicate SABC News much less DStv Diski. 

If Canal+ is able to swallow up MultiChoice as there's a moderate to high chance of the deal being greenlight by regulators mainly because of the company's financial position. Although, Netflix already curates content within the market it's not to the scale of SuperSport much less SABC News.

Expect this deal to come with numerous clauses the first I presume would be local quotas even for LicenceCo. Canal+ could be told that 40-60% of its earnings must be used to fund the local landscape and with a 20% cap they'll likely want a detailed report on their activities.

Another which I don't think would be the case is a divestiture of core brands maybe Canal+ could sell a stake in SuperSport which I doubt even DStv. Canal+ is more likely look to offload assets such as Namola and Aura as they generate very little revenue for MultiChoice.

Scenario B

Regulators have been known to block deals in the past with Vodacom and Maziv deal that had remained ongoing since 2022. On the MultiChoice's stance, the issue would stem from its dominance within the TV spectrum particularly sports, a deal like this would further isolate competitors.

Another may have to do with economic factors, regulators may fear that this ordeal will lead to jobs cuts or loss of local content. Although Canal+ doesn't have an existing foothold, MultiChoice has been loss making and the acquiring company always looks to reduce operational expenses.

Lastly the structure, MultiChoice plans to curve out it's broadcasting license into a separate entity to ensure its compliant with legislation. Regulators may not be convinced that MultiChoice will comply with that 20% cap as the loophole to this would be MultiChoice Africa.

E! Entertainment, CNBC And Various Other Channels From NBCUniversal To Fold Under New Company Called Versant

The spinoff of Comcast‘s cable networks has a name: Versant.

Mark Lazarus, who will lead the new unit, wrote in a memo to staffers, “Versant represents more than a name – it speaks to our adaptability and embraces the opportunity to shape a new, modern media company. There were many considerations for a suitable name. Our internal team of incredibly skilled and experienced brand marketers, designers and media tacticians took into account our overarching goal to influence culture, connect communities and signify a unified direction forward.”

Since the spinoff of MSNBC, CNBC and other cable networks was announced last year, the entity has gone by SpinCo.

Lazarus added, “We would be foolish to expect everyone to love the name of our new company immediately. There were certainly some others that we could have gotten behind, but after sitting with Versant for a couple of weeks now, I believe it will suit us well, evoke a sense of energy, and underscore our role in driving progress.”

Lazarus also said that the company headquarters would be in Manhattan.

Other networks included in the spinoff, expected to be completed later this year, are USA Network, Oxygen, E!, SYFY, and Golf Channel.

With NBC News no longer a sister network, MSNBC has been building up a news division. Yet to be announced is how the network plans to approach streaming. MSNBC shows had appeared on Peacock, but that platform will remain in the Comcast fold.

The choice of a media company name invites quick reaction and judgment, especially in an era when so many entities choose uncommon words, like Axios and Semafor, or a partial anagram, like Tegna, from its spinoff from Gannett. Some names have been outright duds, most prominently Tronc, the name given to Tribune Publishing in 2016 only to be dropped two years later.

According an audio announcement from brand marketers Lisa Fleming and Mike DeRienzo, thousands of names were considered, but only 43 passed “preliminary knockout.” Of that, 25 were cleared domestically. That was narrowed to 12 finalists that were presented to the leadership team.

The field of options continued to narrow, with a top three selected to go through international clearance. All three did.

They then went into “design exploration,” including logos. “After months of presentations and conversations, a clear winner rose to the top, and that was Versant,” DeRienzo said. Versant actually is a real word, meaning the slope of a mountain. “It says strength, forward movement,” he said.

By contrast, MSNBC will retain its name, even though NBC will no longer be part of the network. The “MS” stood for Microsoft, as the network initially was joint venture with Microsoft. The tech giant sold its stake in 2005.

The Count: Love And Honor May 2025 Teasers

MultiChoice Will Be Removing Qwest TV From The DStv Platform From 14 May, No Word On Showmax

After MultiChoice opted to boot off the underperforming pop centred MTV Hits from Paramount Global in favour of Qwest TV from multi award-winning artist Quincy Jones. It is revealed through an electronic guide that Qwest TV will stop being distributed on DStv from 14th May.

This will be the second TV channel within the year following the closure of 1Max in March. It also joins a list of channels the pay-tv broadcaster failed to accommodate as they undergo a possible takeover by Canal+.

Qwest TV was a jazz infused music channel home to musical icons such as Erykah Badu, Questlove, Salif Keita, Gregory Porter and Fatoumata Diawara. They hosted exclusive concerts and documentaries, and similar to 1Max was also made available to stream on Showmax.

MultiChoice doesn't state why Qwest TV is being removed from DStv after 2 years or whether like 1Max the latter will continue on Showmax. But the usual "it forms parts of ongoing efforts to refresh our local content line-up and optimise the suite of channels on offer".

Best guess would be low viewership as Qwest TV was added as a replacement to MTV Hits both of which were Compact+ (and by default that's Premium). Another reason may have to do with revamping of Showmax or MultiChoice's financial position.

Since last year, MultiChoice has been technically insolvent which led to the closure of numerous channels and sale of NMIS Insurance Services. 

Although Qwest TV goes dark on the DStv platform in the coming weeks, MultiChoice does however offer an alternative lineup. For Qwest TV viewers this would be Trace Gospel and Dumisa with the latter ranging from funk, soul and jazz on DMX.

Reminder: E!’s Unforgettable Red Carpet Coverage Will Air On Tuesday, 6 May At 7pm Across Africa

Fashion's biggest night is just around the corner. This May, the 2025 Met Gala will take place in New York City at the iconic Metropolitan Museum of Art, where the world’s most celebrated stars will showcase their most memorable style statements of the year.

E! Live From The Red Carpet: The 2025 Met Gala will air on E! (DStv 124) on Tuesday, 6 May at 7pm. From exclusive details about what inspired the stars' looks to interviews with celebrities as they arrive at the soirée, South African viewers won't want to miss a moment of the fashion frenzy.

Co-hosted by fashion expert Zanna Roberts Rassi, producer and NBC Sports host Maria Taylor, journalist Elaine Welteroth, actress and comedian Yvonne Orji and designer Christian Siriano, the show will treat fans to insider scoop on what the stars will be wearing, details about this year's party and sneak peeks of celebrity attendees departing from The Mark Hotel, The Carlyle Hotel and The Pierre Hotel in their jaw-dropping looks.

And, of course, Access Hollywood co-host Zuri Hall will be on site at the Metropolitan Museum of Art bringing you exclusive interviews from the Met Gala steps as the biggest names in fashion make their grand entrance, dressed to the nines. 

The theme for this year’s Met Gala is “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” and the dress code is “Tailored for You.” Drawing inspiration from Monica L. Miller’s 2009 book Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity, the dress code will focus on menswear and suiting. Throughout the show, E! will also highlight Black celebrities, influencers and stylists to honour diversity and its impact on fashion. 

Zendaya, Doechii, Law Roach, Olympic track star Sha’Carri Richardson, Ayo Edebiri, Spike Lee, WNBA player Angel Reese, Janelle Monaé, Usher and Simone Biles and husband Jonathan Owens are just a few of the stars expected to attend this year's Met Gala.

While the official guest list is still under wraps, fans may get a glimpse of Met Gala staples who often attend, like Kim Kardashian, Kendall Jenner, Lil Nas X, Rihanna, Cardi B, Billie Eilish and Zoë Kravitz.

E! Live From The Red Carpet: The 2025 Met Gala is produced by Den of Thieves with Jesse Ignjatovic, Evan Prager and Barb Bialkowski.

Watch E! Live From The Red Carpet: The 2025 Met Gala on E! on Tuesday 6 May 2025 at 7pm.