Rogba Arimoro Warns Canal+ Takeover Of MultiChoice Could Reshape Nigeria’s $6bn Film Industry

Rogba Arimoro warns Canal takeover of MultiChoice could reshape Nigeria’s $6bn film industry Filmmaker and producer, Rogba Arimoro, has raised concerns over how the acquisition of MultiChoice by French media giant Canal could significantly reshape Nigeria’s film and television ecosystem, valued at over $6 billion annually. According to Arimoro, the deal may go beyond corporate ownership changes to influence how content is financed, produced, and distributed across Africa’s largest entertainment market. He noted that Nigeria’s creative industry has long depended on broadcaster led commissioning models, where platforms like MultiChoice fund productions while retaining control over distribution and monetisation structures. However, he warned that Canal’s consolidation of control could shift these dynamics. Arimoro argued that such a shift could affect job creation, production budgets, commissioning patterns, and even storytelling direction, as global media conglomerates increasingly prioritise scalable intellectual property and international distribution value over locally tailored commissioning. He further stressed that the evolution of streaming and international co-productions is already forcing Nigerian filmmakers to rethink traditional production approaches, urging creators to build content with long-term ownership and global competitiveness in mind rather than relying solely on broadcaster commissions. The concerns come amid wider industry discussions about Canal’s post-acquisition restructuring of MultiChoice, including cost optimisation, subscriber growth strategies, and integration of African operations into its global media portfolio. Analysts say the acquisition one of the largest in African media history could accelerate both opportunities and disruptions for Nollywood and the broader creative economy, depending on how local content policies and investment strategies evolve under the new ownership structure.

• Possible shift in how Nollywood films are commissioned
• Changes in production funding and budgets
• Potential impact on industry jobs and crews
• Stronger integration with global streaming and content markets
• Possible shift in storytelling focus toward exportable content
• Nigeria’s film and TV sector remains one of the country’s most valuable creative exports, contributing billions annually and employing thousands across production, distribution, and broadcasting value chains.