Last-minute deal saves DStv channels
MultiChoice owner Canal+ signed a multi-year and multi-territory agreement, which saved DStv from losing many prominent channels.
In December 2025, MultiChoice warned its DStv subscribers that it may have to cut twelve Warner Bros. Discovery channels from its bouquets.
It explained that negotiations over terms and pricing for the content, which have been ongoing for several months, had deadlocked.
Unless the impasse could be resolved, MultiChoice would have been forced to remove the twelve channels from DStv on 1 January 2026.
The channels include Cartoon Network, Cartoonito, CNN, Discovery, Discovery Family, Food Network, HGTV, Investigation Discovery, Real Time, TLC, TNT Africa, and Travel Channel.
The deal also covered the licensing of movies and series for distribution on MultiChoice’s M-Net channels, DStv Stream, and Showmax.
That includes hundreds of highly popular titles from the premium television network and service HBO, which have been a major selling point for MultiChoice’s services.
Earlier in December, Showmax’s Best of HBO page had over 190 titles, including hit series like The Last of Us, Dune: Prophecy, and House of the Dragon.
Other well-known franchises in the Warner Bros. Discovery stable include Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, and the DC Comics Universe.
The situation was complicated by Warner Bros. Discovery being in the middle of a tug of war between Netflix and Paramount Skydance.
The world’s biggest streaming service and the Ellison family-owned broadcasting giant both want to buy the company.
However, the good news for DStv subscribers is that Canal+, which owns MultiChoice, has reached a deal with Warner Bros. Discovery, which saved the channels.
Deal between Canal+ and Warner Bros. Discovery
The day before the deal was set to expire, Canal+ and Warner Bros. Discovery signed a new multi-year and multi-territory agreement.
This expanded agreement covers both the distribution of HBO Max and the renewal of several Warner Bros. Discovery thematic channels across Africa and Europe.
The agreement includes the renewal of the distribution of 12 Warner Bros. Discovery thematic channels across MultiChoice Group territories.
- CNN International and Cartoon Network are exclusive in South Africa, and non-exclusively in other territories.
- Cartoon Network Porto is exclusively in Angola and Mozambique and non-exclusively in other territories.
- Cartoonito, Cartoonito Porto, Discovery Channel, Discovery Family, Real Time, ID, TLC, HGTV, Travel, TNT Africa, Food Network are non-exclusive.
“This agreement enables CANAL+ group to strengthen its entertainment, kids, news, and documentary channel offering in African markets,” the company said.
“This agreement enhances access for subscribers to Warner Bros. Discovery’s iconic content.”
This includes HBO Max and select channels, including premium series and films that contribute to the studio’s international reach.
DStv still lost four channels
While DStv has avoided losing twelve channels supplied by Warner Bros. Discovery, four channels linked to Paramount will still be shut down.
Paramount Africa will close its doors at the end of December 2025, which brings an end to the company’s South African operations.
The company reached audiences of over 100 million viewers across 52 territories of the African continent through its portfolio of 10 television channels.
These channels include BET, Comedy Central, MTV, MTV Base, Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., NickToons and VH1 Classic.
MultiChoice confirmed earlier this month that DStv would lose four channels from Paramount Africa and its CBS AMC Network partnership at the end of the year: BET Africa, MTV Base, CBS Reality, and CBS Justice.
Paramount Africa will shut down BET Africa and MTV Base, and the channels will be discontinued on DStv and GOtv at 09:00 on 1 January 2026.
Similarly, CBS AMC will shut down CBS Reality and CBS Justice on 31 December. MultiChoice thanked Paramount and CBS for their partnership.
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