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Canal+’s planned takeover of MultiChoice, Africa’s largest pay-TV operator, could face its first serious test before the deal is even finalized in October. Ghana’s communications regulator, the National Communications Authority (NCA), has ordered MultiChoice Ghana to cut its subscription rates by 30% or face suspension of its operating license.
The move follows mounting frustration in Ghana over steep subscription costs, which have climbed sharply in recent years. In April, MultiChoice raised its local fees by 15% with little notice, citing rising costs and a challenging economic environment. The increase came against a backdrop of broader dissatisfaction across West Africa, where high inflation and currency fluctuations have squeezed consumers while prices for pay-TV services have continued to climb.
Ghana’s communications minister, Samuel Nartey George, issued an ultimatum: lower rates by 30% by August 7 or face shutdown. MultiChoice refused, offering instead to freeze its current rates. That proposal was rejected, and the NCA has now given the company until September 8 to respond formally, either by presenting its objections or taking remedial action to avoid suspension.
MultiChoice Ghana’s managing director, Alex Okyere, warned that shutting down operations would have “dire consequences,” including job losses for staff, installers, agents, and retailers. He stressed that the company has made every effort to keep prices as low as possible despite intense economic pressures, but insisted that the scale of the demanded reduction was “not tenable.”
If Ghana proceeds with the suspension, the repercussions could spread. Other African governments, emboldened by Ghana’s stance, might push for similar price cuts or take regulatory action. Such developments would threaten to undermine the value of Canal+’s acquisition before the French pay-TV giant even takes control.
Canal+, which already owns over a third of MultiChoice, has secured key antitrust approval for the deal but still awaits final regulatory clearance in South Africa. CEO Maxime Saada has promised swift changes once the acquisition closes, including consumer benefits across Africa and a synergy plan to streamline operations and boost efficiency. Saada indicated these measures could begin rolling out before the end of the year if the takeover completes on schedule.
One unresolved question is the future of Showmax, MultiChoice’s loss-making streaming venture with NBCUniversal. Canal+ already operates its own streaming service and holds a stake in another major platform, raising speculation about potential restructuring.
For now, all eyes are on Ghana. The next month will determine whether MultiChoice can avoid a costly and symbolic loss — and whether Canal+’s African expansion starts with momentum or with damage control.
