MultiChoice’s plan to save $479 million by 2030 could mean dark days for African TV and film

MultiChoice plans to cut $479 million in costs as its acquisition by Canal+ moves forward. As commissioning becomes more conservative and Showmax shuts down, the question for Africa’s film and TV industry is simple: who funds the next wave of stories?

When MultiChoice launched Showmax in 2015, the goal was to create a homegrown competitor to Netflix. Although it reportedly overtook Netflix to become the biggest streaming platform in Africa, MultiChoice has revealed it will sunset the platform.

The decision comes after the acquisition of MultiChoice by French media giant Canal+, which wants to implement sweeping cost reductions across the combined business.

The plan includes cutting roughly $479 million in expenses by 2030 as the company grapples with falling subscribers, currency pressures across African markets, and rising competition from global streaming platforms.

For MultiChoice, the shift is about restoring profitability. But for Africa’s film and television industry, it raises a different question: what happens when one of the continent’s biggest buyers of local content starts spending less?

Why MultiChoice is tightening spending  

MultiChoice has struggled with declining subscriber numbers and weaker consumer spending across several African markets.

The company’s subscriber base fell by about 1.2 million users in its most recent financial year, bringing its total to roughly 14.5 million across services such as DStv and GOtv. During the same period, revenue dropped 9% to about $3 billion, while subscription income declined even as the company implemented price increases in some markets.

The company recently reported a headline loss of roughly $49 million, reversing profits recorded in previous years.

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Simultaneously, the economics of the media industry is shifting. Streaming platforms have intensified competition for viewers, while piracy and rising data consumption habits are changing how audiences access content. Traditional pay-TV providers are increasingly forced to invest heavily in technology and original programming just to retain subscribers.

As a result, MultiChoice’s acquisition by Canal+ has accelerated the need for greater financial...