Rising cost of living, currency depreciation, and competition from streaming services have all conspired to see MultiChoice lose 589,000 South African subscribers in its latest financial year.

The decline is across premium, mid-market and mass segments of its operation.

After completing its acquisition of MultiChoice, Canal+ has moved to stabilise the business.

MultiChoice’s new leadership under David Mignot, CEO,  hopes to “stop the bleeding and get back to growth”.

The new leadership has scrapped DStv’s annual price increase and decided to shut down Showmax, the in-house streaming platform that struggled to compete with Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.

Canal+execs have described Showmax as unsuccessful, noting that the difficult transition to online streaming, combined with currency devaluation in Nigeria and power cuts, had hurt MultiChoice’s profitability.

MultiChoice ended 2025 with 14.4 million subscribers across Africa, down from 14.9 million a year earlier, while revenue declined 6 percent to 2.4 billion euros.

Federal government has directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to suspend the introduction and rollout of new policies, regulations, or major regulatory changes until full compliance with the Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA) Framework is achieved.

The directive, issued by Princess Zahrah Mustapha Audu, director general of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), is part of efforts to strengthen regulatory quality, ensure policy coherence, and improve the ease of doing business in Nigeria

According to the statement, the RIA Framework, which was formally implemented in January 2025, requires that all new policies or amendments introduced after the date must undergo review and approval in line with its provisions.

She noted the framework has already been circulated to MDAs by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and is also accessible on the PEBEC website.

MDAs are therefore expected to familiarise themselves with the framework and align their policy development processes accordingly.

Audu emphasised that while the government remains committed to working collaboratively with regulatory institutions, no new reform or policy would be allowed to proceed without being backed by clear and verifiable evidence.

She explained the directive aims to prevent policy shocks that could negatively affect businesses, investors and citizens, eliminate inconsistencies and frequent policy reversals, and institutionalise evidence-based policymaking across government.

The directive also seeks to enhance transparency, improve predictability, and boost stakeholder confidence in public policies, while ensuring adequate engagement to minimise resistance prior to implementation.

Consequently, all MDAs have been instructed to suspend any planned policy rollouts that have not yet been implemented, ensure that new policy proposals are supported by comprehensive RIA and necessary approvals, and integrate the RIA process into their internal policy formulation procedures.

They are also required to undertake structured and inclusive stakeholder engagement as part of policy development to improve acceptance and implementation outcomes.

The PEBEC boss added that MDAs can access the RIA Framework through its website or seek technical support from the council’s secretariat.

She, however, noted that exceptions would only be granted in cases of urgent national interest, subject to appropriate approval.

Audu stressed that cooperation from all MDAs is crucial to building a stable, consistent and business-friendly regulatory environment capable of driving sustainable economic growth and boosting investor confidence.

Owners of several television and radio stations have distanced themselves from a recent threat issued by the Independent Broadcast Association of Nigeria (IBAN), which called for a boycott of media engagements involving Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory

IBAN had threatened to withdraw coverage of the minister’s activities unless he retracted his comment on Channels Television’s Seun Okinbaloye and issue a public apology.

However, Ambassador Yusufu Mamman, chairman and owner of JKD Television (DSTV Channel 391) and Hamada Radio Networks, has dismissed the association’s statement as baseless.

Describing Ahmed Tijjani Ramalan, chairman, IBAN, as an impostor, Mamman argued that Ramalan has no authority to speak on behalf of broadcast station owners.

Mamman, who operates a television station and four radio stations, stated that he is not affiliated with any group called IBAN and would not support any action against the Minister, especially after Wike had already clarified his remarks.

“My attention has been drawn to an organisation called IBAN led by one Dr Ahmed Tijjani Ramalan, speaking for and Independent Broadcasters threatening to boycott media briefing by the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, unless he makes public apology in respect of his recent banters with Channels Television Anchor, Seun Okinbaloye.

“The position of so called IBAN is at best, an opinion of Mr Ramalan, who is never a broadcaster and had no idea of laws, norms, etiquette or professional broadcasting codes.

“Most importantly, Mr Ramalan has constituted himself into a fighting vehicle in courts against many broadcasting organisations and the National Broadcasting Commission.

Therefore, I urge the Minister to ignore his ranting.

“This is more so that on the live television program,  the Minister took time to clarify what he meant and his Spokesperson also issued a statement saying categorically that the Minister’s comment was figurative and didn’t mean any harm,” he said.