MultiChoice carried out more than 155 anti-piracy raids across Africa during its 2025 financial year, according to a report by Business Post Nigeria. The company also reported 107 arrests and 4,351 illegal networks shut down.
The figures were shared in a report on how content piracy is changing Africa’s entertainment industry. The report said piracy is no longer only a fight over copyright.
According to the report, piracy now affects how people watch shows, how creators get paid and how platforms protect their content. It said the problem has moved from copied DVDs to illegal streams and downloads.
Partners Against Piracy, known as PAP, brings broadcasters, content creators, regulators and law enforcement together to tackle the problem. The group works through enforcement, education and cooperation within the industry.
PAP and the MultiChoice Talent Factory ran a campaign made by 14 young South African filmmakers. The campaign focused on the people behind the screen whose jobs depend on the creative industry.
The report said a film or series does not belong only to the star on screen. Writers, directors, producers, editors, technicians, stylists and crews all work on each production.
When content is pirated, the report said, the money lost can reach far beyond the broadcaster or rights holder. It said lost income can affect decisions about which new shows get made.
For African producers, this could mean fewer chances to fund new films, series and documentaries, according to the report.
MultiChoice has said it uses AI tools to spot suspicious online activity. The company also uses real-time detection to stop illegal live streams. It uses watermarking to trace pirated content back to its source.
The report said live sport is one of the hardest areas to protect. A film can be watched the next day, but a football match cannot. This makes big sports events attractive to illegal operators.
Rights holders therefore need to find and stop pirate streams while the match is still being played, the report said.
The report also said digital piracy often crosses borders. The operator, the technology, the payment system and the viewers can all be in different countries.
Because of this, the report said, broadcasters, tech companies, governments and police need to work together to fight piracy.
In Nigeria, the Nigerian Copyright Commission runs a STOP Unit. The unit watches for online copyright violations and acts against websites that share pirated content.
MultiChoice Nigeria has supported public awareness campaigns about piracy. These campaigns aim to help consumers, creators and young people understand how piracy affects the economy.
The report said legal platforms now face a new test. They must make legal content easy to find, easy to watch and worth paying for, so viewers choose it over illegal streams.
Source: this article is based on reporting by Business Post Nigeria. Image: Business Post Nigeria. Written with the help of AI and published by the Tzaneen Voice Entertainment desk. See our Editorial Standards.
Rirhandzu Baloyi writes about entertainment for Tzaneen Voice. Rirhandzu covers South African music, film, TV, streaming, awards and celebrity news, from amapiano and local soapies to Showmax and Netflix releases. Stories stick to what happened, who was involved and when fans can watch or listen.