Groupe Canal+ SA (Canal+), the media arm of Vivendi, a Paris-based firm controlled by French billionaire Vincent Bollore’s Bollore Group, has strengthened its foothold in African media by acquiring a stake in Marodi TV, a Senegalese production company known for its popular TV series.
The move underscores Canal+’s strategic push to expand its African footprint. By deepening its partnership with Marodi TV, a key player in Africa’s creative scene, Canal+ aims to solidify its influence in French-speaking Africa, where it already produces over 4,000 hours of African content and operates 30 channels across 10 languages.
Bollore-backed Canal+ has been actively expanding in Africa. Earlier this year, it increased its bid for South Africa’s MultiChoice Group to R55 billion ($2.9 billion), up from the initial offer of R46 billion ($2.5 billion), highlighting its ambitions to capitalize on the continent’s growing entertainment market.
Senegalese content powerhouse, Marodi TV, gains global backing
Marodi TV, a Senegalese production company founded in 2012, boasts a library of more than 600 hours of content and a loyal following of 6 million YouTube subscribers. The company, known for hit series like “Pod & Marichou,” “Maitresse d’un homme marié,” and “Karma,” has been a key player in shaping Africa’s television landscape.
Following the recent investment by Canal+ Group, Marodi TV will remain under the leadership of its founder and majority shareholder, Serigne Massamba Ndour. The partnership presents an opportunity for Marodi TV to expand its distribution network across Africa and beyond, by leveraging Canal+’s extensive reach and resources.
Bolloré’s wealth rises as Vivendi, Canal+ expand footprint across Africa
Canal+’s investment in Marodi TV underscores its commitment to nurturing homegrown talent and content creation within Africa. The move also leverages strategic partnerships to solidify its position in the continent’s dynamic media landscape.
Vivendi, the parent company of Canal+, has been steadily raising its stake in MultiChoice Group, a sign of its expanding ambitions in Africa’s entertainment market. MultiChoice, which operates the popular Showmax streaming service, is a formidable competitor to global players like Netflix. Vivendi currently holds the largest shareholder position in MultiChoice.
Bollore’s net worth has seen a significant increase this year, soaring by $232 million to reach $9.69 billion. This rise is closely tied to the performance of Bolloré Group’s investments, which include Vivendi and internet service provider Wifirst.
