A significant shift has been made in the African pay-TV landscape, as a top French media conglomerate concluded the purchase of $3 billion from an elite South African broadcasting company. The deal, which started in mid-2024, and completed regulatory approval in 2025 allows the French firm full control of DStv and GOtv, two of the most well-known pay-TV services in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The acquisition process was conducted using an approach that was phased. Initially the French company increased its shareholding to more than 45 percent, before launching the full purchase offer of R125 for each share. The offer was the equivalent of 67 percent more than the value of the company in the moment. The purchase was received well by investors, which resulted in a majority ownership for the acquirer.
To ensure compliance the South African broadcasting laws that restrict foreign influence The new owners have arranged to restructure the national division responsible for obtaining broadcast licences. An entirely new company will be set up for these functions while local shareholders will hold the 51 percent stake in the economics. This arrangement guarantees that the business is legal and compliant while the control of strategic planning can shift.
The deal puts the French media giant at top of Africa’s most powerful satellite TV service. DStv is known for its extensive reach in over 50 countries, and GOtv which offers mass-market viewers terrestrial services, constitute the foundation of digital TV in nations like Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa. The agreement will bring both platforms under one broad global strategy with the aim of fighting off competition from other streaming networks from around the world.
The regulatory authorities reviewed the deal with a focus on its economic impacts. There were guidelines to ensure employment, guarantee local content creation, and encourage equity ownership among historically underprivileged groups. The final approval was approved in late May of 2025 and the full integration is expected to be completed at the time the end this year.
For viewers, immediate results could include new content offerings, better streaming capabilities, as well as competitive bundles of services. While the branding will remain the same, changes to operations that are triggered by the company’s parent could alter the strategic directions of platforms.
This new development is the beginning of a fresh chapter in the African media industry. With new investment and oversight from international sources, DStv and GOtv are ready for a change. The next question is the way this global-local partnership will impact the delivery of entertainment, engagement with viewers and technological advancement across the globe.
