Canal+ has bid to create a single broadcasting giant in Africa with a bid of US $2.5 billion for MultiChoice, the South Africa broadcaster and owners of DSTV and Showmax. If it goes through, the combined entity will be near monopoly in Africa with significant control in all major Africa markets including South Africa and Nigeria. Canal+ already owns 31% stake in Multichoice and the plan is to take the company private, offering 40% mark up on share price trading yesterday. Multi choice has operations in 50 Africa countries, with the South Africa and Nigeria attraction very key to Canal+ plans. Canal+, while already a big player on the continent, its scope is largely limited to Francophone Africa.
