French media giant Canal+ has taken direct control of sports rights acquisition for SuperSport, shifting key decision-making authority from South Africa to its headquarters in Paris following its $3 billion acquisition of MultiChoice. The move marks a significant restructuring of Africa’s most dominant sports broadcasting platform and signals a strategic pivot focused on cost control and centralized governance.
Under the new arrangement, SuperSport no longer independently determines which sporting events it bids for or acquires. Instead, those decisions now sit directly with Canal+ executives in France. The restructuring comes months after Canal+ completed its acquisition of MultiChoice in July 2025, a deal valued at roughly 55 billion rand.
Industry observers say the centralization is designed to improve cost efficiency across the merged group. However, it has already triggered concern within broadcasting circles, particularly regarding the long-term cultural and commercial implications for African audiences.
Veteran broadcasting journalist Thinus Ferreira told Johannesburg-based radio station 702 that the restructuring reflects Canal+’s broader mandate to cut expenses while maintaining operational stability.
“Canal+ has told investors it must cut costs, but it cannot fire staff for three years. One of the things they are doing is taking away all of the acquisition power from SuperSport,” Ferreira said. He added that sports purchasing decisions are now being made “directly from Paris, where Canal+’s head office is.”
Loss Of Local Autonomy And Programming Shifts
The shift has already resulted in noticeable programming changes. High-profile international events such as the Winter Olympic Games and the World Darts Championships have reportedly been excluded from SuperSport’s lineup after Canal+ opted not to secure those rights.
For decades, SuperSport has been widely regarded as Africa’s premier sports broadcaster, serving millions of subscribers through MultiChoice platforms including DStv and GOtv. Sports content has historically been the backbone of DStv subscriptions, driving customer loyalty and premium package uptake across Sub-Saharan Africa.
The removal of certain international events has raised concerns among subscribers who view sports as a core component of their pay-TV value proposition. Ferreira noted that some DStv customers have already expressed dissatisfaction after noticing the absence of long-standing marquee events.
Broader Impact Across Sub-Saharan Africa
The consequences of this centralization extend beyond South Africa. Canal+ now oversees sports content decisions across English- and Portuguese-speaking African markets, including Nigeria, Kenya, and Ghana, regions where live sports broadcasting is deeply embedded in social and cultural life.
In these markets, SuperSport has historically curated content based on regional audience demand, balancing European football, local leagues, global tournaments, and niche sports. With acquisition authority relocated to Europe, there are growing concerns that cost-cutting priorities could override localized programming strategies tailored to African viewers.
The combined Canal+-MultiChoice group now serves more than 40 million subscribers across the continent, making it one of the largest pay-TV operators in Africa. The company had pledged to invest approximately 26 billion rand over three years into local production, digital innovation, and technology upgrades following the acquisition. However, critics warn that centralized control may inadvertently weaken local creative ecosystems if content approvals slow or shift toward imported programming.
Rising Pressure From Global Streaming Platforms
The restructuring also unfolds against intensifying competition from global streaming giants such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, both of which are aggressively expanding sports rights portfolios alongside entertainment content.
Ferreira told MyBroadband that streaming platforms possess greater financial flexibility when bidding for premium sports rights. “Streamers like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and others have more financial resources to spend on content. It’s only a matter of time before they take more sports, the lifeblood of traditional pay-TV,” he said.
Delays in approving production contracts for local programming on channels such as kykNET and Mzansi Magic have also been reported, raising questions about how quickly decisions are being processed under the new centralized model.
Strategic Consolidation Or Cultural Risk?
From a corporate perspective, Canal+’s move reflects a common post-acquisition strategy: consolidate control, eliminate duplication, and standardize decision-making to improve margins. Given the scale of the $3 billion investment, tighter oversight of high-cost assets like sports rights aligns with investor expectations.
Yet for SuperSport, long positioned as Africa’s authoritative sports voice, the loss of autonomy represents a structural shift. The coming years will determine whether centralized efficiency strengthens the group’s financial sustainability or erodes the localized appeal that helped build its dominance across the continent.
For millions of African viewers, the outcome will ultimately be measured not in boardroom strategy, but in what appears, or disappears, on their screens.
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