If you thought the big changes at MultiChoice ended with the takeover last September, think again. The new French owners, Canal+, are now considering a massive shake-up that could see DStv subscribers migrate to the Canal+ streaming app, bringing heavy hitters like Apple TV+ and HBO Max directly into the ecosystem.
According to a Bloomberg report from last week, Canal+ is “mulling” the rollout of its own streaming platform to MultiChoice clients. This isn’t just a simple app swap; it’s a consolidation play. The Canal+ app already integrates content from Apple TV and Warner Bros. Discovery’s HBO Max, meaning Kenyan subscribers could finally get a legitimate, all-in-one home for some of the world’s biggest shows without juggling multiple subscriptions or VPNs.
“All of the content is embedded on the Canal+ app, and as a user, you do not have to go on another app,” Amandine Ferre, Canal+ Chief Financial Officer, said in an interview with Bloomberg.
This potential move aligns perfectly with the aggressive restructuring we’ve seen since Canal+ completed its $3 billion acquisition late last year. The company is clearly in “fix-it” mode after MultiChoice bled nearly 3 million subscribers over the last two financial years, a decline we analyzed in light of the worrying subscriber numbers from June 2025.
To stop the bleeding, they’ve already pulled several levers. We saw the massive price cut plans and festive decoder deals late last year. They have also been ruthless about “trimming the fat” to streamline costs, most notably with the expiry of the Warner Bros. Discovery contract in December. That decision threatened the removal of 12 major “unnecessary extra” channels, including staples like CNN International, Cartoon Network, and Discovery, mirroring Canal+’s strategy in France of unbundling costly packages to focus on efficiency.
Ferre emphasized this focus on affordability and value:
“We are really working on the entry ticket and the best packages, and making sure we have the best price.”
Beyond the app, the content strategy is shifting. The combined entity has already returned NBA content to SuperSport after an eight-year hiatus and added French Ligue 1 matches. They are also taking a harder line on revenue protection, having recently implemented tech to actively degrade pirate streams during the just-concluded AFCON 2025.
If the Canal+ app does roll out here, it could be the “silver bullet” for the premium segment that has been churning away to Netflix and piracy. But this “super app” might spell doom for another familiar name.
