Canal+ Launches Tech Fight Against DStv, GOtv Piracy

Canal+, the new owner of MultiChoice, is launching a high-tech initiative to combat piracy of DStv and GOtv content across Africa. The company is leveraging its cybersecurity and software business, Irdeto, to deploy advanced measures including forensic watermarking, ISP blocking, and investigations.

Canal+ stated that illegal streaming services and unauthorized IPTV platforms have developed into a sophisticated digital ecosystem capable of rapidly copying and redistributing content. This piracy not only results in lost subscription revenue but also adversely affects producers, actors, writers, and technicians in Africa's creative industry.

The technology of ISP blocking allows internet service providers to restrict access to identified pirate websites, enabling quicker intervention during live events. Forensic watermarking, specifically Irdeto's TraceMark technology, embeds invisible identifiers in DStv content to trace pirated material back to its source, even after manipulation.

In March 2026, DStv deactivated 819 end-user pirate streaming accounts following raids in Cape Town, showcasing the effectiveness of these enforcement measures.