MultiChoice: DStv subscribers may lose 12 channels in January 2026

DStv subscribers face the potential loss of access to 12 major Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) channels, including CNN, Discovery Channel, TLC, and Cartoon Network, beginning January 1, 2026. This outcome is contingent upon whether MultiChoice and WBD finalize a new distribution agreement.

​MultiChoice, which is now owned by Canal+, issued a warning to customers on Monday via text messages, stating that its current carriage deal with WBD is scheduled to expire on December 31, 2025, and renewal negotiations have not yet concluded.

​The following quote from MultiChoice confirms the ongoing issue:
​“While discussions between the parties continue, no agreement has been reached at this stage. If this remains unchanged, several Warner Bros. Discovery channels may no longer be available on DStv from 1 January 2026,” MultiChoice said.

​The dozen channels at risk of being pulled include: Discovery Channel, CNN International, TLC, Discovery Family, Real Time, TNT Africa, Food Network, HGTV, Investigation Discovery, Cartoon Network, Cartoonito, and Travel Channel.

​This potential content blackout comes at a challenging period for MultiChoice, which has experienced significant subscriber losses in recent years. The broadcaster has shed 2.8 million active linear subscribers over the last two financial years. This includes 1.2 million customers lost in 2025 alone, representing an 8 per cent decline split between its operations in South Africa and the rest of Africa.

​In Nigeria, MultiChoice has reportedly lost 1.4 million subscribers over the past two years, a trend largely attributed to repeated subscription price increases.

​Furthermore, the company is set to lose additional content in the coming months. Paramount Africa is scheduled to discontinue BET Africa and MTV Base from January 1, 2026, while the CBS Reality and CBS Justice channels are slated to cease operations on December 31, 2025.