Bad turn for anyone with DStv in South Africa
Despite the notable positive changes planned for DStv in South Africa, its content could take a major hit following Netflix’s acquisition of Warner Bros.
Subscribers have been promised better value through free upgrades, cheaper decoder prices, and expanded content under the new owner, Canal+.
However, the broadcaster now risks losing some of its most important international channels and shows.
A week ago, MultiChoice warned that 12 popular Warner Bros. Discovery channels may be removed from DStv by the end of the year.
This followed a breakdown in negotiations to renew the rights to broadcast these channels beyond 31 December 2025.
According to people familiar with the matter, the negotiations between Warner Bros. Discovery Inc. and Canal+ SA about renewing content agreements have stalled over price.
The channels at risk include CNN, Cartoon Network, Cartoonito, Discovery, Discovery Family, Food Network, HGTV, Investigation Discovery, Real Time, TNT Africa and the Travel Channel.
The situation worsened when Netflix announced a R1.4 trillion deal to buy Warner Bros. The acquisition, which still needs regulatory approval, is expected to be finalised in late 2026.
Before that happens, Warner Bros. Discovery will separate its linear TV business into a new company called Discovery Global.
This restructuring could still give MultiChoice a chance to hold onto some of the channels if Netflix chooses not to focus on live TV and if Canal+ finds the new pricing acceptable.
However, the far bigger concern is Netflix’s plan to take over Warner Bros. and HBO’s on-demand content—the same content that forms a large part of what makes DStv and Showmax appealing.
Netflix said it intends to add famous franchises and shows like The Big Bang Theory, The Sopranos, Game of Thrones, The Wizard of Oz, and the DC Universe to its own library.
It also plans to incorporate HBO and HBO Max programming, giving its subscribers access to one of the strongest catalogues in the world.
This is particularly worrying for Showmax. As of early December 2025, Showmax’s collection of HBO content alone included 191 series.
When you add Warner Bros.’ full slate of movies and shows, hundreds of titles could be at risk.
Bad timing
It was also reported that both the live channels and on-demand content were part of MultiChoice’s tense negotiations with Warner Bros. Discovery.
Even if only the on-demand content disappears on 1 January 2026, it will seriously reduce the value of both DStv and Showmax subscriptions.
All of this comes at a time when MultiChoice and Canal+ have been trying to win back subscribers by offering more value without raising prices.
Decoder prices have been cut, and DStv is increasing the number of people who can stream at the same time on one account.
These changes were meant to make DStv more competitive, especially after Canal+ completed its takeover of MultiChoice.
Canal+ now controls DStv, DStv Stream, GOtv and Showmax, giving the combined group access to more than 14 million customers across Africa. The French media giant has big plans for the business.
Canal+ CEO Maxime Saada previously spoke about launching a single “super app” that brings all the group’s content together—local shows, African sport, international movies, global series, and Canal+’s large European library.
David Mignot, who leads Canal+ Africa and now oversees MultiChoice, said the combined catalogues of Canal+ and MultiChoice will allow the group to offer far more variety than before.
Canal+ has thousands of European and American films, while MultiChoice remains the strongest provider of African entertainment and sports broadcasting.
However, even with these advantages, losing Warner Bros. and HBO content would be a major blow. These titles are some of the biggest drawcards for South African viewers.
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