DStv Stream's Africa Expansion
CANAL+ and Samsung Partner to Pre-Install DStv Stream on Smart TVs Across Africa
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Key Points
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Multiple reports characterize the deal as the “first-ever” native pre-installation of a MultiChoice streaming app by a major OEM, embedding DStv Stream “on Samsung’s Tizen operating system,” so the service is visible immediately on device power-on (rather than via external casting or browsers).
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The integration is also described as improving the user experience beyond discoverability—featuring a “seamless user interface, optimized video playback, and automatic software updates.”
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One report links the push directly to CANAL+’s acquisition of MultiChoice, saying the KES 380 billion (R54 billion) deal has prompted a “pivot away from the traditional satellite dish” to stem pay-TV subscriber losses by embedding the service directly into the TV experience.
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In CANAL+/MultiChoice’s own framing, CEO David Mignot called the rollout “a significant milestone in the synergies created by the combination of CANAL+ and MultiChoice Group,” while reiterating that expanding availability on connected devices is key as “viewing habits continue to evolve rapidly across the continent.”
Starting June 1, 2026, every new Samsung Smart TV sold across 18 African markets will come with the DStv Stream app already installed on the home screen. Advanced Television reports this is the first time a MultiChoice streaming app has ever been pre-loaded by a major TV manufacturer, placing it alongside YouTube and Netflix before a user even touches a remote.
The move is timed to one of the biggest sports events on earth. The FIFA World Cup 2026 kicked off on June 11, and DStv Stream will broadcast all 104 matches. BusinessNow reports the rollout covers markets including South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Angola, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
From Satellite Dish to TV Home Screen
CANAL+ took full control of MultiChoice in a R54 billion ($3.2 billion) deal completed in September 2025. Since then, it has pushed hard to move away from satellite dishes and set-top decoders. The problem is clear: MultiChoice lost roughly 1.2 million subscribers in late 2025, and Tech-ish reports Kenya alone shed 85,000 pay-TV users in just the first quarter of 2026.
The Samsung deal is the clearest answer yet to that crisis. By embedding DStv Stream directly into Samsung's Tizen operating system — the software that runs Samsung Smart TVs — the app appears the moment a buyer powers on their new TV. No app store search. No download. No satellite dish required.
Showmax Is Gone, DStv Stream Is the One App
On April 30, 2026, CANAL+ shut down Showmax entirely. All its content — including Premier League Mobile rights — moved into DStv Stream. TechCentral described the result as a "single streaming hub" meant to simplify the viewing experience. The combined platform now draws on 10,000 hours of local content each year: 6,000 hours from MultiChoice and 4,000 from Canal+.
Some users pushed back. Telecompaper noted that cheaper, mobile-only Showmax tiers built for lower-income households no longer exist. Those subscribers now face higher-priced DStv Stream plans. In markets where mobile data is expensive and satellite coverage is thin, the pivot away from traditional broadcasting carries real risks.
Prime Real Estate on 40 Million Screens
Analysts call the home-screen placement "prime real estate." Bizna Kenya explained that sitting alongside Netflix and YouTube at device launch cuts the biggest barrier in streaming: getting people to find and install the app in the first place. The deal extends a CANAL+-Samsung relationship that already spans 40+ countries across Europe, French-speaking regions, and Asia.
CANAL+ CEO David Mignot called the rollout "a significant milestone in the synergies created by the combination of CANAL+ and MultiChoice Group." The group now serves 40 million subscribers across 50+ African markets, according to Streamline Feed. CANAL+ is targeting EUR 150 million in cost savings in 2026 alone, rising to EUR 400 million annually by 2030, largely by cutting hardware subsidies like decoder boxes.
World Cup, AI Search, and What Comes Next
The June 1 launch date was not accidental. TechCentral reports CANAL+ deliberately timed the rollout to land weeks before the FIFA World Cup 2026, which began June 11. The idea: capture "cord-cutters" who want HD sports but do not want to install a satellite dish. DStv Stream holds the rights to all 104 World Cup matches, plus the English Premier League and major rugby competitions.
Looking further ahead, Business Insider Africa reports the group plans to add natural-language search tools powered by Google Cloud and OpenAI to DStv Stream starting in mid-2026. Instead of typing keywords, users will be able to describe what they want to watch in plain sentences. Meanwhile, CANAL+ made its debut on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange on June 3, 2026, the same week the Samsung rollout began.
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