Canal+ Pulls Out Of Ghana Following Regulator’s Suspension Of Multichoice Service

Ghana’s pay-TV sector has been shaken by the sudden exit of Canal+ and MultiChoice, two of Ghana’s largest subscription TV operators, due to new regulations by the National Communications Authority (NCA) that made their business unsustainable.

The shift came after months of muted tensions between the broadcasters and Ghana’s telecommunication regulator, which set stricter licensing conditions that players in the sector claim were costly and impractical. The new regime, which was enacted this year, requires operators to pay hefty yearly fees, maintain locally located operations and adhere to stricter content rules.

The exit was well thought out for the French-based media giant Canal+ and the South African parent entity, MultiChoice, of DStv and GOtv. They had collectively invested heavily in Ghana’s pay-TV market with sporting, entertainment, news, and educational content to millions of homes. However, top managers at the two entities indicated in private that the new laws, particularly the cost of licensing and operational compliance, made the market unsustainable.

Their withdrawal is a loss to Ghanaian viewers and the entire West African television market, where the two companies had been dominant players for generations. Canal+, established in Francophone Africa, had been aggressively penetrating Ghana recently with packages tailored to local viewing tastes. MultiChoice, however, had been a household name since the 1990s, synonymous with Premier League matches, Nollywood films, and international programming.

The NCA has also defended its regulatory overhaul, claiming to encourage fair competition, protect consumers, and stimulate more indigenous content production. However, its opponents predict that the policy will have the reverse effect, pushing out the incumbent operators and leaving a gap that smaller or less able operators may be unable to fill.

This could lead to fewer choices, less quality, and maybe even higher prices in the long term, said one industry analyst.

For subscribers, it was a shocker. Social media became an outrage as people complained about being deprived of access to those cherished channels. Some were afraid they would miss great sports tournaments, and some spoke of the loss of Nollywood movies, foreign news, and cartoons that had become integral to home routines. Customer service complaints and refund requests surged following the disclosure, despite both companies promising to fulfil previously paid subscription terms.

Industry insiders note that this is not a one-off affair. Across Africa, pay-TV operators are suffering from higher costs, shifting consumer habits, and the growing dominance of online streaming platforms. In other countries like Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa, similar showdowns have occurred between broadcasters and regulators, though they were not all followed by complete withdrawal.

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In the Ghanaian context, the timing is particularly sensitive. The economy has just emerged from a slowdown, and disposable incomes have been squeezed. For most households, pay-TV is a luxury as it stands, and any increase in prices or reduction in choice will lead them to switch to more affordable online options. Online streaming options such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Showmax are gaining traction, albeit with affordability and consistency of internet connection issues.

The exits of Canal+ and MultiChoice leave a vacuum that regional entrants and smaller local players could plug. However, it remains doubtful if they possess the size, programmatic variety, and brand love of existing behemoths. Analysts thought the next several months would be crucial for the NCA, which would need to demonstrate that its policy changes would make a more competitive and consumer-oriented market possible without sacrificing the range and quality of programming that Ghanaians have enjoyed for decades.

Meanwhile, the story is a naked reminder of the thin line between regulation and survival in the markets and of the rapidity with which venerable participants can disappear from a market in which they seemed invincible.

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Ikenna Churchill

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