Canal+ and Samsung Electronics have agreed to pre-install the DStv Stream app on all new Samsung Smart TVs sold across 18 African countries, marking the first time a MultiChoice Group streaming application has been pre-installed on Samsung devices in these markets.
From Dish to Home Screen
The rollout began on June 1, 2026, covering English- and Portuguese-speaking markets, including South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Angola, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Under the deal, DStv Stream sits directly on the Samsung TV home screen from the moment the device is switched on, with no separate download or search required.
The agreement extends a wider Canal+ and Samsung distribution partnership that already covers more than 40 territories and over 25 million smart TVs across Europe, French-speaking Africa, and Asia.
Sports Content Anchors the Timing
The timing is deliberate. DStv Stream carries the full FIFA World Cup 2026, the English Premier League, and domestic and international rugby, as well as general entertainment content. Launching the pre-installation weeks into the World Cup puts the app in front of millions of new TV owners exactly when football viewership is at its highest.
A Streaming Pivot Under Canal+ Ownership
The Samsung deal reflects a broader restructuring of MultiChoice’s distribution model since Canal+ completed its takeover of the group. The company recently shut down its loss-making Showmax service and folded that content into DStv Stream, creating a single streaming hub rather than running multiple competing platforms. Pre-loading that unified platform onto Samsung devices takes the consolidation a step further by putting DStv Stream directly in front of consumers at the point of sale, before streaming habits are formed.
The Subscriber Pressure Behind the Move
The latest sector statistics from the Communications Authority of Kenya show that the Pay TV market lost 85,000 subscribers in Q1 2026 alone, with DStv among the major casualties. The pattern is consistent across multiple markets, underlining why Canal+ is accelerating DStv Stream’s reach beyond traditional satellite infrastructure.
As connected television adoption expands across Africa, pre-installing DStv Stream on one of the region’s most popular smart TV brands gives Canal+ a direct channel into that transition and a better shot at holding viewers as pay TV increasingly converges with streaming. For Samsung, the arrangement strengthens its smart TV lineup in Africa by bundling a platform with strong existing brand recognition across the continent.
