Canal+ Group's first-half 2026 results were significantly boosted by its recent $2 billion acquisition of Africa's MultiChoice Group, with the FIFA World Cup helping drive strong subscriber growth at the pay-TV giant's South African operations. CEO Maxime Saada said the increased scale from the deal was already delivering expected benefits, with the company having achieved half of its €250 million synergies target and remaining on track to meet full-year and medium-term guidance.

Canal+ reported that subscriber acquisition in MultiChoice countries rose 40% compared with the first half of 2025, with June marking the best subscriber acquisition month in South Africa in a decade, aided by a World Cup advertising campaign fronted by Idris Elba and the launch of the Novelas+ channel. Total group revenue jumped 40% to €4.29 billion ($4.88 billion), largely thanks to the MultiChoice takeover, though underlying growth excluding the deal was 1.4%; adjusted EBIT rose 68% overall, or 13% excluding MultiChoice. StudioCanal, the group's production arm, also had a strong six months, with box-office hits including Guru and Pressure, and Saada pointed to an upcoming slate featuring Paddington 4, a remake of Escape From New York, and Danny Boyle's Ink.