Orange has entered exclusive negotiations with French investment firm Verdoso for the potential sale of its media services arm, Globecast, a move that could reshape broadcasting across Africa.
Today’s announcement comes just weeks after Canal+'s acquisition of MultiChoice and its subsequent discontinuation of Showmax, highlighting a period of rapid transformation for African media.
Globecast, a fully owned subsidiary of Orange, provides end-to-end broadcast and distribution services, combining satellite, fibre, and IP technologies to serve TV channels, rights holders, and platform operators worldwide.
Since its founding 24 years ago, the company has supported major global events such as the Africa Cup of Nations, Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the Tour de France, and the G7 summit.
In Africa, it has a growing presence, with a key facility in Johannesburg, South Africa, offering hybrid connectivity and local expertise.
“Thanks to a hybrid infrastructure combining satellite, fibre and IP, and to a range of end-to-end managed services, Globecast enables broadcasters to simplify their operations, control their distribution costs and reach their audiences across all networks, from satellite bouquets to OTT and streaming platforms,” Orange said in a statement.
Globecast’s African operations extend from North Africa, with strategic partnerships with Arabsat, to West Africa, through Senegalese telco Sonatel and national broadcaster RTS Senegal.
It also supports live sports coverage for top-tier events like the AFCON and provides TV Everywhere OTT solutions to extend reach across digital platforms.
Orange, which connects nearly 180 million customers across Africa and the Middle East, cited strategic refocusing as the reason for divesting Globecast.
“This potential transaction allows Globecast to gain a reference shareholder capable of supporting its next-generation offerings and strengthening its position in a structurally shifting market,” the company said.
Verdoso, a Paris-based investment firm, specialises in acquiring mid-sized companies, transforming and will provide the capital and strategic guidance to help Globecast navigate the evolving media ecosystem.
For African broadcasters and audiences, the sale could signal a new era of investment and innovation in content distribution, even as traditional models face disruption from global streaming trends and regional consolidation.
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