<\/p>\n
Following the listing of Canal+ on the JSE on Wednesday \u2013 the first French company to do so and the first on the Main Board so far this year \u2013 CEO Maxime Saada says it is \u201cabsolutely and totally confident in our ability to turn around this company\u201d, referring to MultiChoice, which it acquired in September 2025.<\/p>\n
He adds that the executive team believes it is \u201cat the stage a few months after closing the [Showmax] operation\u00a0where we have a very strong understanding of the situation and of the levers required to turn around this company\u201d.<\/p>\n
Read: Canal+ makes strong JSE debut after MultiChoice deal<\/p>\n
A number of these have already been launched by David Mignot, the CEO of Canal+ Africa.<\/p>\n
These span three pillars:<\/p>\n
It has followed this playbook in every single market it operates in, not least of which is France.<\/p>\n
Saada points to the management team\u2019s track record in the last 18 months since being independently listed on the London Stock Exchange.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe tackled a number of topics that have been issues for a long time: the tax [Vat] issues that we faced [in France], we solved in less than a year, the turnaround of Europe \u2026 and we have significantly improved our cash generation\u201d.<\/p>\n
\nIts French operation had been \u201closing money for many, many years \u2013 it was not profitable\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
This has been turned around, and it is now cash generative.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have achieved all of our targets, quarter after quarter, so we have a good history\u201d \u2013 albeit a short one, he readily admits \u2013 \u201cof delivering on what we commit to,\u201d says Saada.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow, the big topic is around MultiChoice and its turnaround.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Read: How Canal+ will turn around battling MultiChoice<\/p>\n
As part of the focus on content, Canal+ announced \u201cthe first big deals that we are signing here in South Africa to make sure that we have the best content in every category\u201d.<\/p>\n
Rugby, soccer<\/strong><\/p>\n
It confirmed that it has secured the broadcast rights for the Rugby World Cups in 2027 (Men\u2019s) and 2029 (Women\u2019s) for SuperSport across Sub-Saharan Africa.<\/p>\n
It also confirmed that SuperSport will remain the exclusive broadcaster for the United Rugby Championship (URC), after a multi-year broadcast rights renewal of the inter-continental club competition.<\/p>\n
\nIn addition, it has extended its partnership with the PSL to broadcast the popular competition live across the continent.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Saada says the decision to not air coverage of the Winter Olympics earlier this year was one made by MultiChoice in 2024.<\/p>\n
He also chirped that he wanted to put it on record that \u201cit was a good decision because nobody was watching\u201d. Moneyweb understands that viewership of this event generally peaked in the thousands.<\/p>\n
The jury (and renewal) remains out on Super Rugby Pacific, which barely fares much better.<\/p>\n
A few months ago, it announced that all 104 games of the Fifa World Cup would be available on the base-level DStv Access package, which costs R99 a month. \u201cIt\u2019s the first time [that] 100% of the World Cup will be available to 100% of the subscribers of the [MultiChoice] group,\u201d said Mignot.<\/p>\n
Investor interest<\/strong><\/p>\n
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CONTINUE READING BELOW<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
CFO Amandine Ferr\u00e9 says the group \u201cactually started meeting with South African investors long ago when it started acquiring MultiChoice\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome of them were already investors in MultiChoice, so they know the media business very well. These were the first people we met and actually when we discussed with them, they told us how important it was to be listed in the JSE.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis was one of the reasons why we were so eager to list at the JSE quite quickly after the acquisition.\u201d<\/p>\n
Listen: Canal+ arrives on the JSE \u2026 what to expect<\/p>\n
That Canal+ achieved a secondary listing within just more than six months of the delisting of MultiChoice is practically unheard of.<\/p>\n
\u201cOver the last months we\u2019ve been meeting with a lot of local investors. Some were already investors in MultiChoice. Some were [potential] new ones but were interested in what we can offer to the market.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not an easy story, you know,\u201d admits Ferr\u00e9.<\/p>\n
\nShe says the troubles MultiChoice has been in have been \u201cwidely known\u201d for the past few years.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
\u201cIt might take a little bit of time because people need some time to know us and see that we are doing what we are saying that we do, but the [investor] interest is there, and we\u2019ve had a very good reception.\u201d<\/p>\n
Prior to delisting, the Public Investment Corporation owned 11.76% of MultiChoice, with M&G Investments holding 8.23% and Allan Gray 6.97%.<\/p>\n
Read: MultiChoice and Altech referred to Competition Tribunal for prosecution<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
#RWC #SuperSport #didnt #cancel #Winter #Olympics #Canal #CEO<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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