Canal+ secures UEFA rights, DStv subscribers keep Champions League access
By Aboki Forex —
Canal+ has acquired exclusive broadcasting rights to the UEFA Champions League, Europa League and Conference League across more than 40 sub-Saharan African countries. The deal runs for four seasons from mid-2027 to 2031, meaning DStv subscribers in Nigeria and across the region will continue watching Europe's top club competitions without interruption.
SuperSport, the sports broadcasting arm of DStv, will carry the competitions as part of the agreement. In French-speaking African markets, Canal+ Sport will regain full Champions League coverage and, for the first time, hold exclusive French-language rights to both the Europa League and the Conference League. Financial details were not made public.
How the deal was structured
Canal+ acquired the rights from UC3, a joint venture between UEFA and the European Club Association. UC3 appointed sports marketing agency Relevent in 2025 to handle commercial rights sales for UEFA men's club competitions covering the 2027/28 to 2032/33 cycles. Canal+'s deal accounts for four of those six seasons.
The agreement is the latest move in Canal+’s plan to anchor DStv’s appeal around live sport. The French media company took control of MultiChoice Group in September 2025 and has since built a broad sports portfolio to compete with streaming platforms.
Cost cuts and subscriber growth
To fund its sports-led approach, Canal+ pulled back on entertainment costs. It shut down Showmax earlier this year and held off on its customary annual subscription price increase.
Canal+’s most recent half-year figures show revenue climbed 40%, while adjusted earnings before interest and tax rose 68%. Within MultiChoice, adjusted earnings before interest and tax jumped 160% to €143 million, and subscriber acquisition across MultiChoice markets increased 40%. The combined African subscriber base grew 7%, with South Africa recording its best month for new subscribers in ten years during June.
Canal+ credited much of that growth to the FIFA World Cup but said weekly UEFA club football is expected to keep subscribers engaged beyond the tournament. The Champions League will now sit at the centre of DStv’s long-term offer to football fans across the continent.
What it means for Nigerian subscribers
For Nigerian DStv customers, the deal removes uncertainty over access to top European club football until at least 2031. It also supports Canal+’s decision to skip annual subscription increases this year, offering some relief to households already managing rising costs.