Could Canal+ Be Looking To Rebrand M-Net's African Channels On DStv?

A few months ago, it was announced SPI International was looking to rebrand it's FilmBox channels in Europe, Africa and other parts of the world to FilmBox+. This formed part of an alignment strategy as a means to strengthen the brand.

Canal+ took control of SPI International by 2023 after buying up shares in the company. This would make FilmBox part of the larger Canal+ ecosystem which include significant movie/TV content production and distribution assets like StudioCanal.

The recent reporting of them rebranding FilmBox Action to FilmBox+ Action with Kino TV being phased out for FilmBox+ One is to make these brands appear more unified. I think the question now is whether the same fate awaits M-Net.

Aside from M-Net 101, there's also Mzansi Magic, KykNET, Africa Magic, Abol TV, Maisha Magic, Akwaaba Magic, Zambezi Magic and Pearl Magic.

Will these brands also be given the + symbol with M-Net being phased out for Canal+ Premium perhaps?

While there's no guarantees, SPI International is singing the same tune as MultiChoice with both of them now identified as A Canal+ Company. They both also have seen certain aspects of the company rebranding to Canal+.

Although Canal+ doesn't intend to reduce local content that doesn't exclude the possibility of a rebrand. With Canal+ looking to launch its streaming service in MultiChoice markets we could as well be see a "+" symbol on Mzansi Magic's name.

Magic is how the previous regime at MultiChoice and M-Net chose to identify and Canal+ may want to enhance that by adding the "+" symbol. Because in most if not all the markets they operate in that's how they usually identify themselves. 

Let's remember that sometime ago when asked about M-Net, KykNET and Africa Magic responded to say "we love SuperSport".

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