African Content Goes Global: Canal+ to Distribute MultiChoice Shows Internationally Through StudioCanal
In a significant move for African television, Canal+ has announced plans to distribute MultiChoice’s locally produced content to international audiences through its European distribution arm, StudioCanal. This initiative marks a major step forward in bringing African storytelling to global viewers.
David Mignot, CEO of Canal+ Africa, confirmed that select South African productions meeting international quality standards will be chosen for worldwide distribution. The partnership will leverage StudioCanal’s position as one of Europe’s leading content distributors to showcase African narratives on the global stage.
Two South African productions are already slated for international release. “Spinners,” a 2023 crime drama co-produced by Showmax and Canal+, follows a young Cape Town resident named Ethan who enters the dangerous world of car spinning to escape his family’s gang connections. The groundbreaking series made history as the first African show to compete at France’s Canneseries festival and earned recognition at the Dakar Series.
The second production, “Shaka iLembe,” chronicles the rise of the legendary Zulu king Shaka. Broadcast on MultiChoice’s Mzansi Magic channel, the historical drama achieved record-breaking success with 3.6 million viewers during its June 2023 premiere. The series has garnered critical acclaim, maintaining a 96% rating on Google and 8.9/10 on IMDb.
This distribution partnership follows MultiChoice’s recent collaboration with Canal+ and builds upon MultiChoice’s substantial investment in local content, which exceeded $1 billion in the previous year. Through StudioCanal’s established network, these productions will reach markets with stronger currencies, potentially increasing revenue streams.
The agreement also strengthens Showmax, MultiChoice’s streaming platform, in its competition with global streaming giants like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. While these international platforms have previously distributed South African content—such as Netflix’s successful “Beauty and the Bester” documentary about a notable prison escape—this new partnership gives African content creators direct access to worldwide audiences.
The collaboration between Canal+ and MultiChoice represents a strategic advancement in promoting African entertainment globally while creating new revenue opportunities for the continent’s creative industry. As these shows reach international viewers, they will showcase authentic African narratives and potentially pave the way for more continental content to find success on the world stage.
