CANAL+ Initiates KSh 14.9 Billion Recovery Plan for MultiChoice Featuring Massive Recruitment and Showmax Closure

CANAL+ reveals a KSh 14.9 billion strategy to save MultiChoice, including 1,000 new hires, the closure of Showmax, and a major sales-focused restructuring.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 19, 2026, 7:10 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from TUKO.co.ke

Strategic Pivot Toward Aggressive Market Acquisition

CANAL+ has launched a decisive KSh 14.9 billion recovery initiative to stabilize MultiChoice Group following its recent acquisition of the African pay-TV leader. The centerpiece of this turnaround involves a massive recruitment drive for over 1,000 sales-focused positions to strengthen the company’s physical presence across the continent. This shift represents a move toward a high-engagement commercial model, prioritizing direct subscriber acquisition over centralized administrative functions. By bolstering the "on-the-ground" workforce, the French media group intends to navigate the price-sensitive nature of African markets through more effective marketing and direct consumer interaction.

Consolidation Through Support Staff Reductions

While the company scales its sales force, it is simultaneously initiating a voluntary severance program for employees within MultiChoice’s support departments. This operational streamlining aims to achieve greater efficiency by removing overlaps and adopting best practices from the global CANAL+ model. Additionally, a restructuring program will be implemented at IRDETO, the group’s dedicated technology and cybersecurity subsidiary. These adjustments signal a rigorous commitment to cost discipline as the parent company seeks to align the workforce with activities that directly drive revenue and long-term business development.

The Termination of Showmax and Digital Realignment

In a significant strategic reversal, MultiChoice has announced the closure of Showmax, its home-grown African streaming platform, after more than a decade of operation. The decision to shutter the service on March 5, 2026, reflects the intense pressure from global streaming titans like Netflix and Amazon Prime, who have moved aggressively into the African market. According to company statements, the closure is necessary to focus on a more sustainable digital offering that can survive in a landscape defined by cord-cutting and high production costs. The exit from the standalone streaming race allows the group to reallocate resources toward its core DStv and GOtv propositions.