His anger is understandable; his prescription is reckless.

While the xenophobic killings of Nigerians and other Africans in South Africa are unconscionable and demand a firm response, Oshiomhole’s suggested economic retaliation amounts to hitting Nigeria harder than the intended target.

Yes, his frustration is shared by many Nigerians who feel the South African government has been lax in curbing xenophobia.

However, his rhetoric plays well to raw nationalist emotion but fails the test of strategic reasoning. Nationalizing or revoking licenses is a 20th-century solution to a 21st-century problem.

South Africa’s Failure is Real, but So is Nigeria’s

It is true that the South African government has, over the years, failed in its duty to protect foreign nationals who contribute immensely to its economy, Nigerians inclusive.

In more than a decade of recurrent attacks, hundreds of Nigerians have been maimed or killed, properties worth millions destroyed, and businesses forced to shut down while local authorities look away.

The images of law enforcement officers standing idle as mobs brutalise African migrants remain a disgrace to a country that once depended on Africa’s solidarity to end apartheid.

But Oshiomhole’s tirade conveniently ignores another truth: Nigeria has itself failed its citizens long before they sought survival in Johannesburg, Pretoria, or Cape Town.

It is not South Africa’s fault that thousands of Nigerians flee unemployment, insecurity, and poor governance at home in search of dignity abroad. When livelihoods collapse in one’s homeland, migration becomes an act of survival.

The Nigerian state, not South Africa, bears responsibility for creating those conditions.

Economic Nationalism or Economic Self‑Sabotage?

Revoking MTN and MultiChoice’s licences would do little to punish South Africa; it would kneecap Nigeria’s own economy.

MTN Nigeria is not a foreign outpost draining local wealth as Oshiomhole suggests, it is a Nigerian company in legal and financial reality.

Listed on the Nigerian Exchange, MTN Nigeria accounts for 89.5 million mobile subscribers and approximately 82.5 million active internet users, according to Q1 2026 data released by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

The operator added 2.3 million new subscribers in the first quarter, driven by strong growth in data, about 55 million active users and fintech services, maintaining over 51% market share.

It contributes nearly 5% of Nigeria’s GDP through telecommunications, tax payments, and employment.

In 2026 alone (covering the 2025 financial year), MTN paid ₦878.7 billion in taxes and levies, and proposed a total of ₦419.91 billion in dividends to shareholders (comprising an interim dividend of ₦5 per share and a final dividend of ₦15 per share).

As of mid-2025, MTN Nigeria directly employs over 2,500 Nigerians directly, with a broader ecosystem creating jobs for over 2 million people, indirectly through vendors and digital services.

The company, led by a 95% Nigerian executive team, has expanded its high-paying roles significantly, with over 650 staff earning at ₦2.4 million monthly as of Q1 2026.

To nationalise such an enterprise or revoke its licence would not only erode investor confidence but also wipe out billions in pension and equity value held by ordinary Nigerians.

The country is already struggling to attract foreign investment; adding arbitrary expropriation to the list of risks would push it closer to economic isolation.

Similarly, Oshiomhole’s call to revoke MultiChoice’s DStv licence betrays ignorance of recent facts. MultiChoice Group’s majority ownership was acquired in April 2025 by France’s Canal+, a subsidiary of the Vivendi conglomerate.

It is now a French-controlled company, not a South African vehicle. Boycotting DStv to “punish South Africa” thus misses the mark entirely. Moreover, MultiChoice Nigeria employs thousands and pays significant taxes, even amidst legitimate concerns about pricing and consumer protection.

What Nigeria Should Do Instead

Displeasure over xenophobic killings requires a mature, lawful, and effective response—not economic vandalism disguised as patriotism.

Nigeria should pursue three parallel actions:

First, demand accountability and restitution through bilateral agreements and international tribunals. Nigeria and South Africa signed an Investment Protection Agreement in 2000, which provides a framework for compensation when nationals’ businesses are destroyed during civil unrest. This legal path is both dignified and enforceable.

Secondly, engage diplomatically and regionally, using the African Union and SADC platforms to make xenophobia a continental offence worthy of sanctions, not another headline that fades after outrage cools.

And, fix the conditions driving emigration. Nigerians seek better livelihoods abroad because they cannot find them at home. If the government focused half as much energy on job creation, entrepreneurs, and security as it does on populist rhetoric, our citizens would not be trapped in other nations’ hostility.

Leadership Requires Thinking Beyond Emotion

Senator Oshiomhole, a veteran labour leader, once marched for justice against foreign exploitation. But in this instance, his posture mirrors the same impulsive xenophobia he claims to be fighting, an economic xenophobia that would damage Nigerians first.

His proposal would punish Nigerian investors, employees, and consumers while leaving South Africa’s political elite untouched.

South Africa must indeed be condemned for its shameful indifference toward recurring xenophobic violence. Yet Nigeria must respond with principle, not vengeance.

Targeting companies won’t solve a diplomatic or social crisis, it will deepen it. Nigeria and South Africa share one of the most significant intra-African business relationships.

Over 120 South African firms operate in Nigeria across critical sectors, telecommunications, retail, banking, and hospitality, providing millions of jobs, driving investments, and supporting everyday economic activity.

At the same time, Nigerian companies, though fewer, have established a growing presence in South Africa in banking, aviation, manufacturing, and fintech, further strengthening economic ties between both countries.

Attacking or sanctioning these companies in response to xenophobic tensions risks hurting the very people such actions aim to protect.

These businesses employ thousands of Nigerians and South Africans, support supply chains, and contribute significantly to government revenues. Disrupting them could lead to job losses, reduced investor confidence, and broader economic instability on both sides.

More importantly, these companies are not the architects of xenophobia or diplomatic disagreements.

They are economic bridges, symbols of African integration and cooperation. Undermining them would weaken not just bilateral relations, but also the broader vision of a connected and economically resilient Africa.

A more strategic response lies in diplomacy, policy engagement, and the protection of citizens through institutional channels, not economic retaliation that ultimately harms ordinary people.

In moments of tension, restraint and reason must prevail over reaction.

Leadership is not about shouting the loudest or revoking licences; it is about defending citizens intelligently, enforcing accountability through the rule of law, and refusing to let populist fury become national policy.

In the end, the real question is not whether South Africa values Nigerian lives, but whether Nigeria itself does.

• Eligible Showmax customers will continue to stream on DStv Stream on Compact until 31 May 2026
• Stay active on Stream and continue at N6,500 per month for 12 months – over 65% off standard pricing

Following the discontinuation of the Showmax service on 30 April 2026, MultiChoice has announced that eligible Showmax subscribers in Nigeria will receive trial access to DStv Stream Compact for a limited period, as part of the move to a single streaming home on DStv Stream.

After the trial period, qualifying customers can continue on DStv Stream Compact at a special price of N6,500 per month for 12 months, provided the subscription remains active throughout and payments are up to date.

The offer gives Showmax customers access to a significantly expanded content experience, including live TV, international series and movies, kids’ content and live sports via SuperSport, available on mobile devices and smart TVs.

How the trial access works

Eligible Showmax customers will receive trial access to DStv Stream Compact until the end of May. The offer and details on how to take up the offer will be communicated directly via the email address linked to their Showmax account.

After the trial period, customers can continue on DStv Stream Compact at N6,500 per month for 12 months, provided payments remain up to date.

The offer applies to Showmax customers who do not have an active DStv subscription and who subscribed directly to Showmax. It excludes existing DStv customers who already receive Showmax content as part of their package that is, who add Showmax to their DStv bill.

• Eligibility is confirmed via email sent to the Showmax account address
• Includes all Showmax plans, including Showmax Premier League
• Eligible customers receive free access until end May, then pay N6,500 per month for 12 months – a saving of over 65% compared to standard DStv Compact Stream pricing – as long as payments remain up to date.
• Standard pricing for DStv Stream Compact is from N19,000 per month

Showmax subscriptions will not migrate automatically. Customers who wish to continue watching will need to follow the simple sign-up process for DStv Stream shared via email, and create a new profile, all of which takes less than five minutes.

Customers who choose not to move to DStv Stream may request a refund for any unused portion of their Showmax subscription by sending an email to help@showmax.com, subject to standard terms and conditions.

Auto payments to Showmax will stop automatically once the service is discontinued.

The Showmax platform will be discontinued on 30 April 2026, with Showmax Originals continuing on DStv Stream.

Terms and conditions apply. Full eligibility details will be available on dstv.com, and any updates will be communicated directly to customers via email.

The company said eligible users will get free access to DStv Stream Compact from April 1 until the end of May. After that, they can continue at R99 ($5.90) a month for 12 months. The standard price is R299 ($17.83).

The offer is aimed at keeping viewers as Showmax closes on April 30. From that date, all content, including Showmax Originals, will sit on DStv Stream.

Subscribers must sign up for DStv Stream, create a new profile and follow instructions sent to their registered email. MultiChoice said the process takes less than five minutes, but it still requires users to opt in.

That step could affect how many people make the switch. The company has not shared current Showmax subscriber numbers, so it is not known how many users may drop off.

The R99 price is lower than several competitors. It sits below Netflix’s standard plan in South Africa and includes live sport through SuperSport, which other platforms do not offer. DStv Stream also combines live TV, films, series and children’s content in one app.

Still, the discount lasts for a year. After 12 months, the price returns to R299 a month. That jump could test how many customers stay on beyond the promotional period.

The offer comes with conditions. Subscribers must keep their accounts active and payments up to date throughout the 12 months. If payments lapse, the price resets to the standard rate.

The promotion is open to Showmax users who do not already have an active DStv subscription and who pay for Showmax directly. Existing DStv Compact, Compact Plus and Premium customers are excluded, as they already have access to Showmax content on DStv Stream at no extra cost.

Customers who decide not to move can request a refund for any unused portion of their Showmax subscription. Automatic payments will stop once the platform shuts down.

MultiChoice is also using the transition to push new and returning content on DStv Stream. These include the true-crime series The People vs VBS, available from 1 April, the final episode of Die Kantoor on 14 April, and a live broadcast of the Soweto Derby on 26 April.

The company disclosed the plan on Wednesday as it reported stronger-than-expected core earnings for 2025, trusting Africa’s long-term growth potential despite competition in the region’s media and streaming market.

Canal+ said earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) reached 527 million euros ($613 million) in 2025, beating its earlier forecast of 515 million euros.

The combined Canal+ and MultiChoice group generated 8.665 billion euros in revenue during the year and now serves 42.3 million subscribers across operations in Europe, Africa and Asia.

Africa expansion plan

Following its takeover of MultiChoice, Canal+ said it would roll out a 100-million-euro investment programme aimed at strengthening the business in African markets.

The plan includes improving content offerings, simplifying subscription packages and expanding the company’s sales network by recruiting more than 1,000 sales agents across the continent.

The hiring drive comes as MultiChoice’s subscriptions decline. The company’s subscriber base fell from 14.9 million to 14.4 million in 2025, due to economic challenges in key markets and competition from global streaming platforms.

Canal+ CEO Maxime Saada has previously described Africa as a major growth opportunity for the group, saying the company intends to build on MultiChoice’s strong regional presence.

Showmax shutdown and restructuring

Earlier this week, Canal+ confirmed it would discontinue Showmax, the streaming platform previously operated by MultiChoice, after the service struggled to reach profitability.

Launched in 2015, Showmax was created as a pan-African streaming service designed to compete with international platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney+.

However, losses from the service increased in recent years, with MultiChoice reporting an 88% jump in trading losses before the takeover.

Alongside the expansion effort, Canal+ said it would introduce a voluntary severance programme for certain support roles at MultiChoice as part of a broader restructuring plan.

For 2026, Canal+ expects moderate organic revenue growth, with adjusted EBIT projected to reach about 565 million euros.

The company also forecast cash flow from operations above 500 million euros and an adjusted EBIT margin exceeding 9%.

While MultiChoice’s revenue may decline slightly this year, Canal+ said profitability is expected to improve, with adjusted EBIT forecast to rise to around 170 million euros.

Canal+ completed its $3 billion acquisition of MultiChoice in September 2025, creating one of the largest pay-TV groups operating across Africa, Europe and Asia.

The company said it will present a detailed integration and growth strategy for the combined business in a strategic update expected in early 2026.

From Signal Box to Stock Symbol

MultiChoice began life in 1985 with the launch of M-Net. Over decades it turned from a pioneering pay-TV upstart into a household name across the continent, thanks to DStv, Showmax, signature sports packages, and a string of prime-time hits.

That journey made MultiChoice a symbol of Africa’s media growth: from the grainy decoders of the ’90s, through the age of satellite dishes, to the streaming ambitions of the 2020s. But on December 10, 2025, that symbol will vanish from public markets.

The Takeover That Changed Everything

Behind this shift is a takeover by Canal+, the French media powerhouse, which, after nearly two years of negotiations, has finally completed its acquisition of MultiChoice.

With more than 90% of MultiChoice shares tendered in the offer, Canal+ triggered a “squeeze-out,” compelling the remaining minority shareholders to relinquish their stakes under the terms of the takeover.

That squeeze-out has paved way for the delisting, which was scheduled to take effect from December 10, 2025, pending regulatory sanctions from the JSE, the A2X market, and the South African Reserve Bank.

What This Means for Viewers and the Industry

For millions of DStv and Showmax subscribers across Africa, the delisting might not feel like much at first: streaming, live sports, and premium content continue. But behind the scenes, the shift represents something deeper:

• Local investors lose direct ownership. Once a listed company, MultiChoice’s shares were accessible to South African and regional investors alike. With the delisting, local investors no longer hold direct stakes, they now own parts of a larger foreign-controlled entity.
• Strategic consolidation of media power. Canal+ now controls one of Africa’s largest pay-TV and streaming footprints, combining MultiChoice’s legacy reach with its own global resources, sports rights, and content networks. Analysts see this as a significant consolidation in global media markets.
• A possible rebirth, not an end. Canal+ has committed to a “secondary inward listing” on the JSE within nine months of delisting. That could restore some investor access — but under very different management, strategy, and possibly corporate identity.

A Shift Beyond Business

For many across Africa, MultiChoice wasn’t just a company, it was culture. Saturday afternoon football on DStv, Friday-night movies, the first local Nollywood drama on cable, the early days of Showmax streaming.

For a generation it was part of home. Its delisting is symbolic: a sign that the “old guard” of African pay-TV is handing off the baton to a global media conglomerate.

But as one door closes, another may open. With Canal+’s backing, there is potential for deeper investments, in local content, infra-structure, and cross-continental reach. Whether audiences embrace that future or mourn the end of an era will depend on how this legacy is managed.

Well…

The last trading day for MultiChoice’s shares doesn’t just mark a corporate milestone, it signifies a turning point in Africa’s entertainment story.

The exit from the JSE closes a chapter.

The new ownership under Canal+ might begin a new one. For millions of viewers, investors, and media lovers, it’s a bittersweet farewell, and an uncertain, but potentially promising, new beginning.

With the new adjustment, the DStv decoder now sells for ₦7,900, while a GOtv decoder sells for ₦6,500.

The DStv dish is set to sell at ₦10,000, while the GOtenna will go for ₦3,500. The latest price slash follows an earlier reduction in June 2025, under the company’s “We’ve Got You” campaign, when the price of a DStv decoder was reduced by 50% from ₦20,000 to ₦10,000 and the GOtv decoder went from ₦18,600 to ₦9,900.

The company said the move reflects its determination to reward both new and loyal customers by making its offerings even more accessible.

The new pricing takes effect from November 1, 2025, coinciding with the launch of the company’s Festive Campaign.

Speaking on the development, Tope Oshunkeye, executive head of Marketing at MultiChoice, said the initiative underscores the company’s mission to keep entertainment within reach for all Nigerians.

“As the festive season draws closer, family time and celebrations are a big part of our lives, and what better way to do this than to spend quality time with loved ones while enjoying premium entertainment. This price slash makes it possible for more families to enjoy quality local and international entertainment without putting too much pressure on their pockets. At MultiChoice, we remain committed to making world-class storytelling accessible to every home,” he said.

Over the festive season, MultiChoice, through its DStv and GOtv platforms, will be airing its rich slate of kids’ content, international blockbusters, and local originals such as The Low Priest, Mother of the Brides, and Etiti, among others.

For football fans, the Premier League, Ligue 1, La Liga, Serie A, and AFCON will also be available on SuperSport channels.

This comes after Canal+ secured a 94.39% stake in MultiChoice, completing one of the largest transactions in Africa’s media industry. Its buyout offer of R125 per share was accepted by more than 90% of MultiChoice shareholders, giving the French company legal grounds to execute a “squeeze-out” of the remaining investors in accordance with section 124(1) of South Africa’s Companies Act.

“Upon the exercise of the squeeze-out, MultiChoice Group will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Canal+, and an application will be made for the termination of the listing of MultiChoice Shares on the JSE,” the companies said in a joint statement.

Once the delisting process is completed and approved by the South African Reserve Bank, Canal+ will initiate a secondary inward listing on the JSE. 

The group, which was listed on the London Stock Exchange in 2024 under parent company Vivendi SE, said the new listing will enable South African investors to retain access to its expanded global operations.

“A secondary inward listing will preserve South African investor access and market liquidity, allowing local investors to hold shares in a leading global media and entertainment company on the JSE,” the company stated. 

“It will broaden the investor base of Canal+, reinforce the company’s long-term commitment to South Africa and Africa’s creative economy, and support continued institutional exposure to the media sector.”

The $3 billion acquisition is the largest in Canal+’s history, establishing a combined entity that serves more than 40 million subscribers across nearly 70 countries in Africa, Europe, and Asia. 

The integration of MultiChoice’s regional dominance with Canal+’s global reach marks a major consolidation in the continent’s pay-TV and streaming industry.

“We are pleased with the overwhelming success of the offer,” said Canal+ Chief Executive Officer Maxime Saada. “Following this outcome, we will be moving ahead with a squeeze-out of MultiChoice shareholders and a subsequent secondary inward listing of CANAL+ in Johannesburg.”

Saada reaffirmed that the company’s expansion into Africa was driven by a strategic and cultural commitment. “Given the important role Canal+ will now play in South Africa and across the African continent, I believe it to be critically important that domestic investors have the ability to have exposure to it,” he said.

The acquisition is expected to boost investment in Africa’s creative industries, with Canal+ positioning itself as a long-term player in the region’s fast-evolving entertainment sector. 

As integration begins, both firms plan to announce changes to their executive structures to reflect the merger of operations and leadership across markets.

With this move, Canal+ strengthens its presence in Africa and also cross-continental media collaboration, uniting European capital with African creativity in a rapidly globalising entertainment industry.

The mandatory offer for all outstanding MultiChoice shares not already owned by Canal+ became unconditional on September 19, 2025, following the completion of regulatory approvals.

As of that date, Canal+ directly owns 200,030,591 shares, 46% of MCG excluding treasury shares, supplemented by acceptances representing an additional 2.2% of shares. 

With this, Canal+ holds effective control of MultiChoice, creating one of the world’s largest media and entertainment companies, serving over 40 million subscribers across almost 70 countries in Africa, Europe, and Asia, and employing roughly 17,000 staff.

The merger triggers immediate changes in governance. MultiChoice has reconstituted its board to reflect the new ownership while maintaining independence. Maxime Saada, CEO of Canal+, now chairs the MultiChoice board, with Elias Masilela as lead independent director. 

David Mignot has been appointed CEO, Nicolas Dandoy CFO, and Jacques du Puy joins as executive director. The board retains a majority of independent directors: Masilela, Kgomotso Moroka, Louisa Stephens, Deborah Klein, and James du Preez.

Former executives, including MultiChoice CEO Calvo Mawela, CFO Timothy Jacobs, Christine Sabwa, Dr Fatai Sanusi, and Andrea Zappia, have stepped down. Mignot and Dandoy will oversee Canal+’s African operations, including MultiChoice. Mawela will chair the African operations, while Jacobs remains in a senior finance role.

The acquisition also aligns MultiChoice’s financial year with Canal+’s, shifting from 31 March to 31 December. Interim results for six months ending 30 September 2025 will be published within three months, audited results for nine months ending 31 December 2025 within three months, and the integrated annual report within four months.

Speaking on the merger, Maxime Saada said, “Today marks an important step forward for CANAL+, as we begin to integrate MultiChoice to create a group with enhanced scale, reach and creativity. Our combined company is unique, a true global media and entertainment powerhouse, serving more than 40 million subscribers across close to 70 countries. 

“This combination increases our ability to invest in creative and sporting content throughout Europe, Africa and Asia. We will be able to leverage the diverse talent which sits throughout the group to bring to life compelling local and international stories, both from our in-house production studio STUDIOCANAL and global platforms, and the best national and global sports, all on a world leading platform. 

“As we step forward together, I am pleased we have delivered on a key part of the strategy we set out as we became a listed company in our own right last year, strengthening our position in the highest-growth pay-TV markets in the world – Africa-, while continuing to deepen our leading position in Europe. I want to thank the teams at CANAL+ and MultiChoice who have made this transaction a reality. 

“We will now begin to integrate MultiChoice, delivering greater value for all stakeholders. I look forward to providing the market with a more detailed update on the strategy of our combined group during the first quarter of next year.”

Calvo Mawela added: “Today we are starting an exciting new journey, one that will bring fresh opportunities for growth and success for our company and the entire African media industry. Over the past three decades we’ve built something special – grounded in innovation, resilience and a shared commitment to bring great content to our audiences. Going forward, this commitment remains unchanged to our audiences everywhere.

“The new combined leadership team brings a strong vision and deep expertise to the whole CANAL+ Africa business, which will take the group to greater heights. Through our combined scale, shared strengths and expanded capabilities, we are set to deliver more value to our customers, great entertainment for our audiences and ongoing support to the communities we serve.”

David Mignot emphasised the opportunities for African audiences: “As a combined company, we are building on strong foundations to create a media and entertainment powerhouse to serve African consumers. I am proud to lead Canal+’s operations across the continent, including our operations in South Africa. 

“Canal+ and MultiChoice have both been pioneers, and we are now uniting our cultures of excellence, creativity, technology, and storytelling to create something unique. Together, we will harness digital innovation, from streaming and mobile platforms to advanced distribution, to expand access, enhance experiences, and bring compelling programming to more homes, while giving Africa a stronger voice on the world stage.”

The integration is set to preserve current subscriber arrangements, while Canal+ has pledged support for Historically Disadvantaged Persons (HDPs), Small, Micro and Medium Enterprises (SMMEs) in South Africa’s audiovisual sector, and continued funding for locally produced content. 

A strategic update detailing synergies and operational plans will be provided in the first quarter of 2026.

With this green light from the Competition Tribunal, Canal+ is now authorised to buy out all the MultiChoice shares it does not already own, at ZAR 125 per share, valuing the entire company at roughly ZAR 55 billion ($2.9 billion), a 67% premium on MultiChoice’s trading price before the offer was made.

Canal+ has long operated across 25 African countries, but MultiChoice unlocks the rest of the continent, especially key English-speaking markets where the French firm had limited penetration. 

With MultiChoice’s 14.5 million subscribers added to its existing 8 million, Canal+ is taking the position of a giant in African pay-TV.

Canal+ is also buying access to cultural influence, content pipelines, and the continent’s fast-growing streaming audience. Africa’s rising middle class, driven by mobile phone penetration and demand for local entertainment, presents a huge opportunity that European markets no longer offer.

“This approval represents the final stage in the South African competition process,” said Canal+ CEO Maxime Saada. “It enables us to move forward and begin unlocking the synergies across our operations.”

To comply with South Africa’s Electronic Communications Act, the companies will create a separate broadcasting entity known as LicenceCo.

This new body will be independently run and majority-owned by Historically Disadvantaged Persons (HDPs), ensuring continued South African control over broadcasting licences.

Key local stakeholders, such as Phuthuma Nathi, Identity Partners, and Afrifund Consortium, will anchor the HDP ownership structure. In addition, a Workers’ Trust will be set up to give MultiChoice employees an ownership stake. 

Canal+ will be restricted to just 20% voting rights in LicenceCo, a move designed to calm domestic concerns about foreign taking over a sector with deep cultural relevance.

Alongside the structural commitments, Canal+ and MultiChoice have jointly pledged to invest ZAR 26 billion (approximately $1.4 billion) over three years to boost the South African audiovisual sector. This investment will be spread across content creation, sports broadcasting rights, and support for small businesses in the media ecosystem.

The goal is to address fears within the local creative industry about losing influence and jobs. Several South African actors, producers, and filmmakers have voiced anxiety over the prospect of a foreign media group controlling their platforms. 

This public interest investment is expected to soften that opposition by promising job protection and stronger content pipelines for African stories.

MultiChoice CEO Calvo Mawela welcomed the tribunal’s ruling, describing it as “a significant milestone.” He noted the alignment between both companies and their “shared commitment to community impact.”

Beyond pay-TV, MultiChoice’s revamped Showmax is preparing to compete with global giants like Netflix and Disney+, while Canal+ is expanding its bundled streaming services across Francophone Africa. 

The combined power of both platforms is expected to create an African content hub capable of negotiating top-tier sports rights and producing original African programming at scale.

Pending final steps, the deal is set to close by October 8, bolstering a media empire that spans the continent and is built for a digital-first, mobile-driven future.

A class action suit led by Uche Diala, joined by 961 fellow subscribers, sought to challenge MultiChoice Nigeria over what they called arbitrary and exploitative subscription hikes in November 2023 and May 2024.

Their demands?

A rollback of the increases, and a shift to a pay-as-you-view model—similar to what MultiChoice offers in other countries like South Africa.

But their legal challenge hit a wall.

MultiChoice fired back with a preliminary objection, insisting that pricing decisions were not within the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal’s (CCPT) jurisdiction.

According to their lawyers, the claimants had also jumped the gun by filing as a class action without first securing the tribunal’s leave.

Justice Thomas Okosun, who chaired the three-member panel, agreed. He declared that pricing and tariff regulation lie squarely under the President’s authority, as outlined by the Price Control Act—not within the tribunal’s reach.

“The issue of price regulation is a matter that falls within the exclusive purview of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Justice Okosun emphasized.

Although the tribunal conceded it has jurisdiction in some regulatory disputes under the FCCPC Act, it made clear this does not extend to blanket price control—unless market dominance abuse is proven, which the claimants failed to do.

While the tribunal noted that the claimants had a common cause, it nonetheless upheld MultiChoice’s objection and dismissed the suit for lack of jurisdiction.

“This suit is accordingly struck out for want of jurisdiction,” the panel ruled, echoing a precedent set just weeks earlier.

Back on May 8, the Federal High Court in Abuja had similarly sided with MultiChoice, ruling that the FCCPC had no legal authority to fix or freeze pay-TV subscription rates.

For Nigerian subscribers seeking relief from spiraling prices, that’s now two strikes in court—with no clear path to a third.