According to a report, Maxime Saada, Chair and CEO of Canal+, the French media company acquiring MultiChoice, has outlined the company’s plans post-takeover. Saada discussed the future of MultiChoice’s brands like DStv and Showmax, affirming that they will remain unchanged under Canal+’s ownership due to their significant brand value. He stressed the importance of preserving these strong brands unless there is a compelling reason to do otherwise.
“The reality is that we are up against companies like Netflix and Apple, which have a single, powerful brand. However, if you ask me today what I would do, I would definitely not alter the brands. They are highly valued assets,” Saada stated.
The report also indicates that the MultiChoice board has endorsed Canal+’s acquisition bid. This endorsement was confirmed during a press briefing in Cape Town.
Earlier this month, MultiChoice and Canal+ issued a joint statement to shareholders, announcing Canal+’s formal offer to acquire the remaining shares of the South African broadcasting company at R125 per share, marking the next step in the regulatory process overseen by the Takeover Regulation Panel (TRP).
Saada additionally highlighted key distinctions between Canal+ and MultiChoice, underscoring Canal+’s focus on content distribution compared to MultiChoice’s diversification strategy. While Canal+ prioritizes its core business to drive profits, MultiChoice has expanded into sectors such as home security, fintech, insurance, and betting.
