MultiChoice’s DStv has cut 16 channels in South Africa since the beginning of 2026, streamlining packages to reduce costs amid declining revenue as part of its largest package revamp in over two decades.
The Channel Reductions Across 2026
- MultiChoice cut 16 channels across its South African DStv packages between January and November 2026.
- Paramount Africa closures and Warner Bros. Discovery shifts drove early exits, followed by local channel consolidations in September and specialist package cuts in October.
- DStv Compact Plus survived the September revamp for existing subscribers, while DStv Compact customers migrated to a streaming-only Sports package priced at R399 per month.
Paramount Partnership Collapse and Warner Bros. Discovery Shifts
DStv customers entered 2026 with uncertainty after a last-minute deal saved the broadcaster from removing 12 popular Warner Bros. Discovery channels from its bouquets, including Cartoon Network, CNN, Discovery, Food Network, TLC, and TNT Africa. Even with those properties protected, the broadcaster still dropped four feeds when Paramount Africa wrapped up operations as December 2025 drew to a close. MultiChoice verified that viewers lost availability for BET Africa, MTV Base, CBS Reality, and CBS Justice on 1 January due to the breakdown of Paramount Africa’s alliance with CBS AMC Networks.
That initial contraction set a precedent for the year. Subscribers soon noticed missing shows due to the altered Warner Bros. Discovery partnership. Canal+’s separate deal with Warner Bros. Discovery resulted in MultiChoice losing access to HBO’s high-profile content, including House of the Dragon, which had been an M-Net partner for years. The cuts continued on 30 June when MultiChoice removed two channels from its M-Net business, Cinemagic and Magic Showcase.
September Package Revamps and Local Channel Removals
September brought further cutbacks when MultiChoice revealed that M-Net Movies 1, kykNET Lekker, Mzansi Bioskop, and Mzansi Magic would halt broadcasting on the 16th of that month. The broadcaster stated that content from these local channels would remain available on alternative channels as DStv rolled out revamped packages.
The changes took effect on 17 September, with every old package rebranded except for DStv Compact Plus. That specific tier was discontinued for new subscribers, though existing customers kept their subscription price before later being upgraded to DStv Premium. Significant changes also migrated DStv Compact customers to the new DStv Sports package at R399 per month for a streaming-only service. DStv stated that the package combined local and international sport, including the Premier League, PSL, Champions League, cricket, local rugby, UFC, and WWE.
| Channel Removed | Shut Down Date |
|---|---|
| BET Africa | 1 January 2026 |
| MTV Base | 1 January 2026 |
| CBS Reality | 1 January 2026 |
| CBS Justice | 1 January 2026 |
| Cinemagic | 30 June 2026 |
| Magic Showcase | 30 June 2026 |
| M-Net Movies 1 | 16 September 2026 |
| kykNET Lekker | 16 September 2026 |
| Mzansi Bioskop | 16 September 2026 |
| Mzansi Magic | 16 September 2026 |
| SET Asia | 31 October 2026 |
| ZEE TV | 31 October 2026 |
| SET Max | 31 October 2026 |
| Zee Cinema | 31 October 2026 |
| WION | 31 October 2026 |
| JimJam | 11 November 2026 |
Specialist Lineup Refinements and Financial Pressures
Further reductions hit DStv bouquets when MultiChoice removed five channels from its specialist Indian package, effective 31 October. In an email to customers, the company explained that it was refining the channel lineup to better match viewing habits, focusing on fewer, stronger channels rather than spreading similar content across multiple feeds. Consequently, five channels in the R280 add-on—SET Asia, ZEE TV, SET Max, Zee Cinema, and WION—were dropped.
MultiChoice then announced that international preschool TV channel JimJam would be removed, effective 11 November, 13 years after debuting on the broadcaster. A DStv spokesperson noted that the company continued to invest in preschool children’s entertainment through available channels such as PlayRoom, Cartoonito, DreamWorks, and CBeebies. These reductions brought the total tally of removed channels to 16 over the 11-month period. Canal+ reported on 22 October that lower DStv subscription income in South Africa drove a decline in like-for-like revenue at MultiChoice Group during the first nine months of the year, following more than five years of pre-acquisition cost-cutting efforts.
