Halló,
Victoria and Delight from Techpoint here,
Here's what I've got for you today:
- Canal+'s R30 billion MultiChoice move
- Startup's answer to pricey concert tickets
- Carry1st goes beyond gaming with Audiomack
Canal+ takes a big step to fully acquire MultiChoice
After a long silence, French media giant Canal+ is finally taking big steps to fully acquire South Africa’s MultiChoice in a massive R30 billion deal.
Over the years, Canal+ has been quietly buying up shares in MultiChoice, and by May 2024, they’ve managed to snag around 45.2% of the company’s stock. Now, all that’s left is to buy the remaining shares and seal the deal completely.
Of course, a takeover of this size hasn’t gone unnoticed. South African regulators are keeping a close eye on things, and Canal+ and MultiChoice have already filed the necessary paperwork with the Competition Commission.
This means the deal is now under review and will eventually be handed over to the Competition Tribunal for approval. On top of that, they’re also working with the communications authority, ICASA, to ensure everything’s above board.
But there’s one big challenge: South African law limits how much control foreign companies can have over local broadcasters, capping it at 20% voting rights. Canal+ and MultiChoice are well aware of this hurdle, and they’re exploring ways to work around it while still keeping things legal.
Right now, both companies are figuring out how to structure the deal to meet South Africa’s rules, while protecting MultiChoice’s broad-based black economic empowerment status.
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Although they haven’t shared all the details yet, they’ve set a deadline of April 2025 to wrap everything up, so we should hear more soon as they work through the final steps.
Startup's answer to pricey concert tickets
With ticket prices for concerts soaring, many music lovers in Nigeria are left wondering how to catch their favourite artistes live without breaking the bank.
A staggering 51% of people in the UK have admitted to missing out on concerts in the past five years because of rising costs, and we can only imagine the situation is similar here.
So, how do we make live music more accessible? That’s where Liveparte comes in, a startup launched by Edidiong Ekong, Boluwatife Sokunbi, and Uchenna Uchechukwu.
Liveparte is all about connecting three key groups: event organisers, music lovers, and indie artistes. For fans who can’t make it to a concert because of time or financial constraints, Liveparte offers an affordable way to enjoy performances right from their devices.
For event organisers, this platform opens the door to a much larger audience beyond just those who can buy expensive tickets. Plus, they get access to customer engagement and analytics tools that help them connect with fans more effectively and build a loyal following.
With three main revenue sources, Liveparte is set to make waves in the music scene. Want to learn more about how they're making live music accessible for everyone? Check out Chimgozirim’s story for all the juicy details!
Carry1st goes beyond gaming with Audiomack
Good news for music lovers and Audiomack users!
What is it? Carry1st, which now accepts several African local currencies, has expanded beyond gaming by combining its fintech network with Audiomack's streaming capabilities.
The digital content provider has partnered with music streaming platform Audiomack to roll out a new subscription payment system for streaming users.
This collaboration, which builds on Carry1st's localised payment methods, which include mobile money, bank transfers, and digital wallets, aims to establish rewarding music streaming payment solutions across Africa.
Users can leverage the daily, weekly, and monthly subscriptions via the Carry1st shops now available in 12 African countries, including Nigeria, Egypt, Ghana, South Africa, Kenya, and Uganda.
Just like with Spotify, subscribers can unlock unlimited downloads from their favourite artists, as well as high streaming quality and downloadable playlists, all within the platform.
What’s more, customers can enjoy a 10% discount on subscription passes.
Sidebar: Earlier in the year, Carry1st hosted the Call of Duty Mobile Tournament held in Nigeria, marking a significant milestone for eSports in Africa. The digital content publisher also partnered with Sony in January 2024.
In case you missed them
- Starlink doubles subscription prices in Nigeria days after unveiling affordable plan in Kenya
- ETAP eyes Africa-wide car insurance market as it expands into Ghana
What I'm watching
- What Adam and Eve Ate Was Not Fruit | The Bible Should Never Have Been Translated
- 30 Historical Coincidences That Defy All Odds and Shouldn't Have Happened
Opportunities
- AltSchool Africa is offering discounts on diploma programmes! Enrol, complete the application, and pay a one-time fee of ₦20,000 ($20). Use code TECHPOINT30 for a 30% tuition discount upon passing the entrance exam here.
- Follow Techpoint Africa's WhatsApp channel to stay on top of the latest trends and news in the African tech space here.
Have a wonderful Wednesday!
Victoria Fakiya for Techpoint Africa.
