Obi Asika

Canal+ Names Full Africa Leadership Team After MultiChoice Takeover On September 26, just four days after finalizing its R35 billion takeover of MultiChoice, Canal+ announced the leadership team that will run its enlarged African business. Calvo Mawela, outgoing MultiChoice CEO, moves upstairs as Chairman of Canal+ Africa, while longtime Canal+ executive David Mignot takes over as CEO. Other key roles include Fhulufhelo “Fhulu” Badugela (CEO, Rest of Africa), Byron du Plessis (CEO, South Africa), and Nomsa Philiso (Content Director, English and Portuguese markets). These are just a few of a longer slate of appointees covering operations, content, and corporate functions across the continent. For the full list of appointments—plus high-level analysis you won’t find anywhere else on what this means for Canal+ in Africa and the wider media ecosystem (and more recent intelligence)—subscribe to Akoroko Premium: https://lnkd.in/dae3qcys

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Exciting News from Nigeria! Sportiva Venture Studio (SVS) has officially launched in Lagos, Nigeria, with a mission to empower African sports tech innovation. The new venture studio aims to revolutionize the African sports tech landscape by providing comprehensive support to startups. SVS plans to create a portfolio of 10 globally competitive sports tech startups and develop a digital platform to cater to the technology needs of sports clubs and federations across Africa. This launch addresses a crucial issue in the African sports industry, where less than 1% of global sports investment and sponsorship is directed despite a youth population exceeding 400 million. Shockingly, less than 20% of African sports organizations have integrated digital platforms, and over 65% of sports tech startups struggle to secure Series A funding. During the launch event, esteemed guests from various sectors including government representatives from Lagos State Sports Commission, founders in sports tech, legal experts specializing in startups and sports law, gaming development studios, media houses, and investors, shared valuable insights and experiences. The panel discussion, moderated by sports media expert Mr. Enitan Obadina, delved into the theme: "Unlocking the Next Frontier: Investing in Africa's SportsTech Ecosystem," exploring challenges in venture finance, deal flow, and collaboration. Sportiva Venture Studio's innovative solution involves a co-founding approach that offers capital, operational expertise, and go-to-market support to its startups. Focused on three key verticals - performance AI, fan engagement, and tools for sports executives - SVS aims to become the premier technical provider for African sports, laying the digital groundwork for the continent's sports industry and preparing its startups for successful global acquisitions. The first major exits are anticipated between 2030-2031. Signed, Olufemi Abioye CEO, Sportiva Venture Studio Ltd Convener, SportsMeetTech Africa Ltd/Gte Olufemi Abioye James A. Muyiwa Ayojimi Ugochinyere Onyewuenyi Dele Ige Enitan Obadina Aymen Sarraj Esohe Igbinoba Yewande Sulaiman Edu Shola Andrés Lagos Andrew Petcash Henry Ugonna Anyamele, MSc Ope Adu

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𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐥+ 𝐀𝐢𝐦𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐁𝐞 𝐚 𝐓𝐨𝐩 𝐅𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐦 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚 𝐁𝐞𝐭 Canal+ took effective control of Africa’s biggest PayTV firm, MultiChoice Group Ltd. and plans for the combined entity to be among the biggest media firms worldwide, its chief executive said. “We have a target of 50 𝐭𝐨 𝐚 100 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬 in order to be one of the top five global entertainment companies in the world, and maybe the only non-American,” CEO and Group Chairman Maxime Saada said in an interview. “There’s a lot of growth potential in Africa and other countries.” The transaction has met all suspensive conditions, and South Africa’s Takeover Regulation Panel will issue a compliance certificate imminently, meaning the settlement process can start, the companies said in a statement Monday. The deal values MultiChoice at about $3 billion. “The investment strategy is to be as big as possible,” Saada said, adding that the two firms currently spend about €5 𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 ($5.9 𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧) 𝐨𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 and as much as €2 billion on technology already. The combination “will enable us to invest more in local content and technology,” he said. Canal+ has been buying up stock in the market since announcing its initial plan for a deal in 2024 and now owns 46% of shares. With the transaction becoming unconditional, other shareholders will also be able to tender their shares. Formed in South Africa in 1985, MultiChoice expanded across the continent in the early 1990s with packages including live English football matches and local shows. The company was spun off from Naspers Ltd. in 2019 and offers the French broadcaster access to additional markets on the continent, including South Africa, which has the continent’s biggest economy and film-making hub. The newly formed entity could also list on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. The combined operation will create a group with 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 40 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬 and the resources to invest more in local content and sports. The combined entity will likely provide a better view on the way forward in the first quarter of next year, Saada said. https://lnkd.in/eu8r6jRr

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The SCALE Partnership Signing Event was a significant milestone in Ghana’s journey toward transforming foundational learning. Here are some highlights from the event: ✅ The official signing of the SCALE Partnership Agreement, formalizing the collaboration between the Ministry of Education, three philanthropic organisations (Jacobs Foundation, UBS Optimus Foundation, and Fondation Botnar), and ten private cocoa and chocolate companies. ✅ Remarks from the Honourable Minister of Education, partners, and key stakeholders, emphasizing the importance of innovative financing and cross-sector collaboration to improve education outcomes. ✅ A detailed presentation on SCALE’s goals, structure, and how it supports the GALOP Additional Financing (GALOP AF) framework. ✅ A strong show of support from development partners, private sector leaders, and civil society actors committed to making foundational learning a national priority. ✅ Meaningful networking and dialogue, reinforcing the shared commitment to scale impactful solutions across Ghana’s education system. We are proud of this collective effort and inspired by the energy in the room. This is just the beginning of a long-term partnership for sustainable change in education. #SCALEGhana #GALOPAF #EducationInGhana #FoundationalLearning #SCALEPartnership #PublicPrivatePartnership #MoEGhana

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A few days ago, I had the honour to be a part of the panel at the Africa Music Business Summit hosted by the AFRIMA - All Africa Music Awards in Lagos, Nigeria. African music is experiencing an unprecedented boom, driven by digital platforms, vibrant homegrown genres (like Afrobeats, Amapiano, and Afropop), and a massive, connected youth population. Locally, music scenes are becoming more professionalized and lucrative. Globally, African artists are consistently topping international charts, selling out world tours, and entering major collaborations, turning the continent into a dominant cultural exporter. There are several promising areas for investment: (1) Technology & Infrastructure: Funding for music distribution platforms, royalty collection systems, and specialized tech for touring and event management. (2) Artist Development & Labels: Strategic investment in talent incubation, record labels, and publishing companies to build global stars. (3) Live Events & Tourism: Developing world-class venues, festivals, and experiential entertainment linked to tourism. (4) Ancillary Services: Growth in music marketing, PR, legal services, and data analytics tailored for the creative sector. Challenges to Address: (1) Weak Intellectual Property (IP) Frameworks: Piracy and inefficient royalty collection systems that prevent artists and investors from fully monetizing their work. (2) Access to Financing: A lack of structured capital, venture funding, and banking products designed for creative entrepreneurs. (3) Infrastructure Gaps: Limitations in transportation, venues, and reliable power that affect production and touring logistics. (4) Data & Fragmentation: Inconsistent industry data and a fragmented continental market that complicate scaling and investment analysis. Economic Impact of the Creative Industry: The creative industry is a formidable economic engine for Africa. It is a major job creator (for artists, technicians, marketers, publishers), fosters youth employment, and drives significant secondary economic activity in hospitality, tourism, and advertising. Governments need to recognize and support the sector through enabling policies, tax incentives, and public-private partnerships, positioning it as a pillar of sustainable economic diversification and soft power. Thank you to the AFRIMA - All Africa Music Awards team for the invite. #Africa #MusicBusiness #Entertainment #Partnerships #Culture

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