Canal+ Group, a prominent French media company, has recently invested in Marodi TV, which is a Senegalese production firm. While the specifics of the investment have not been disclosed, the transaction is intended to broaden the collaborative relationship between the two companies and bolster Canal+ Group’s standing in French-speaking regions of Africa.
Currently, the French media conglomerate produces over 4,000 hours of African-centric content that is distributed across 30 channels. Each of these channels is dedicated to serving viewers on the African continent and the content is available in ten different languages. Marodi TV’s content has been a part of the Canal+ Group’s broadcasting lineup for the past half-decade.
This new investment move comes as Canal+ Group is planning to buy all the shares it doesn’t yet own in MultiChoice, another television service.
Marodi TV, which was established in 2012 by Serigne Massamba Ndour, is dedicated to making African content readily accessible across all forms of media. This latest investment will greatly increase the company’s potential reach both within Africa and on a more global scale.
The deal will also enable Marodi TV to develop original content specifically for Canal+’s forthcoming channel in Pulaar. Pulaar is a language spoken by the Fulani community, a group with a strong presence in countries such as Senegal, Guinea, and Mali.
Ndour has expressed enthusiasm about the partnership’s potential for strengthening the capabilities of Marodi TV in terms of production and broadcasting. He sees this as a way to export their successful business model across the entire African continent.
Despite this new development, Ndour has confirmed that he will continue to lead Marodi TV and handle the company’s management responsibilities.
Fabrice Faux, who serves as the Director of Channels and Content at Canal+ International, described this new development as a testament to the company’s commitment and dedication to boosting the burgeoning creative industries across Africa.
Over the years, Canal+ has shown a significant interest in Africa and has continually worked to expand its reach within the continent. Currently, the French media group boasts ownership of majority shares in several African production companies including Nigeria’s Rok Studios, Ivory Coast’s Plan A, and Zacu Entertainment, located in Rwanda.
In February 2023, Canal+ further broadened its African footprint by establishing the Digital Factory in Senegal. This facility is designed to generate digital content to help make the Canal+ app the premier platform for streaming and consuming African content.
Most recently, Canal+ has set its sights on MultiChoice, a PayTV service. While the deal is still being finalized, the aim is for Canal+ to acquire all remaining shares in MultiChoice that it does not currently possess. This move indicates Canal+’s ongoing strategic focus on expanding its influence and reach within the African continent’s dynamic media landscape.
