Could Canal+ Look To Discontinue GOtv As They Restructure DStv Packages?

As readers already heard, Canal+ is looking to restructure it's DStv packages because MultiChoice offered about 17 of that in SA. To top it off in other MultiChoice territories, they distribute GOtv which adds another layer of complexity in those plans.

Since 2023, MultiChoice had lost over 3 million subscribers and that the new owners have taken upon themselves to stop further price increases. They're trying to cut down on expenses and make MultiChoice's services affordable.

In Canal+ Afrique territories, their packages are a lot cheaper and it was revealed by the French giant that MultiChoice charges way too much.

Getting back to the packages, MultiChoice offers both DStv and GOtv, and now under French hands there's a strong possibility that one of the two likely GOtv will be put out of its misery.

If the plan here is to make DStv affordable to a point where inflation is very minimal as seen with Canal+ Afrique. There really wouldn't be much need for a GOtv as it was structured by MultiChoice as lightweight or lower budget version of DStv.

If you're folding this structure on DStv possible case scenario here is that Canal+ opts to consolidate the two under one brand if not also opt to keep either DTT or DTH onboard.

Like I mentioned, there is a lot of overlapping between these two.

Take for instance, DStv Compact Plus and GOtv's most expensive offering Supa Plus both carry the same sporting events. Then there's DStv Compact and GOtv Supa/Max that offers a mix of local and international content. 

Followed by DStv Access and Family alongside GOtv Jolli and Jinja which are all aimed at families and kids with a couple of local channels and kids stuff.

All these packages are priced similarly and in the event this restructure takes place it's less likely that Canal+ will try to make these packages rival each other. They've already decapitated Showmax after criticising MultiChoice for making it rival with DStv.

If I had to guess how this could as well pan out maybe Canal+ will merge DStv Compact+ and GOtv Supa Plus with DStv Premium. They've made a majority of channels on these packages accessible to DStv Compact and GOtv Supa customers.

Then there's DStv Family and GOtv Max maybe Canal+ will look to merge that with DStv Compact and GOtv Supa. Just like DStv Premium, MultiChoice has made a couple of channels viewable on there and I mean the entire kids and music lineup.

This would leave DStv Access and GOtv Jinja/Jolli I'm expecting for this to go unscatched considering the pricing and the fact there's minimal overlaps with other DStv and GOtv packages.

Canal+ Dumps DStv Delicious Festival Due To Aggressive Cost Cutting At MultiChoice

The Sunday World newspaper, citing sources, reports that Canal+ has decided to dump the DStv Delicious International Food & Music Festival as part of Canal+'s drastic and aggressive ongoing cost-cutting at MultiChoice.

The DStv Delicious Festival, that's been often-criticised in past editions, started in 2013 and held its 12th one in September at the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit.

DStv Delicious as a subscriber retention, potential upsell and marketing event, focused on the DStv mass-market and combined music acts, including international artists, with a food marketplace as a culinary showcase, combined with a fashion display component that involved local South African fashion designers.

Canal+ is now removing DStv as naming-rights sponsor with multiple sources who said that MultiChoice is done with its sponsorship of DStv Delicious.

Canal+ said that "Since tak­ing own­er­ship of Mul­tiChoice last year, Canal+ has put in place a stra­tegic plan to ensure a sus­tain­able future for the com­pany, put­ting it back on a path­way towards growth. This is essen­tial to ensure that con­sumers are able to con­tinue to enjoy com­pel­ling local and inter­na­tional con­tent on lead­ing plat­forms and that we can con­tinue to sup­port South Africa’s cre­at­ive indus­tries."

"We are proud to work with a broad eco­sys­tem of part­ners, includ­ing SMES and local pro­duc­tion houses, which are crit­ical to our busi­ness and to the growth of the cre­at­ive sec­tor across Africa."

"We remain com­mit­ted to the under­tak­ings we made dur­ing the acquis­i­tion pro­cess and are focused on build­ing a strong, sus­tain­able busi­ness to the bene­fit of South African con­sumers and cre­at­ives alike.

CBS Boss Alec Botnick Has Been Named President Of Nickelodeon Animation Studios

A longtime CBS exec, Botnick will lead the studio into its next chapter while continuing to serve in his current role as Executive Vice President (EVP) of CBS Studios Comedy Development, Head of Animation and Alternative.

Additionally, after BET Studios in December became a label of CBS Studios, the same is now being done with Nickelodeon Animation Studios, which also will function as a label within the David Stapf-run TV studio going forward.

With that, all production units in Cheeks’ expanded portfolio after the Skydance merger are now being consolidated into one, CBS Studios.

As the head of Nickelodeon Animation Studios, Botnick will help the studio reinvent its approach to reaching preschoolers and evolve into a multi-platform brand. He’ll also take charge of Nickelodeon’s unscripted arm, which includes the Kids’ Choice Awards. Of course, he will also guide the development of new TV series while overseeing Nickelodeon’s most important franchises like SpongeBob SquarePants, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and PAW Patrol.

A former WME agent, Botnick joined CBS Studios in 2015 as Vice President (VP), Comedy Development and was upped to executive vp in 2021. 

While at CBS, Botnick has helped develop scripted series including for animated series Star Trek: Lower Decks, Everybody Still Hates Chris and Digman!, along with live-action comedies Ghosts, The Neighborhood, and the upcoming vampire comedy Eternally Yours, as well as Paramount+’s Australian comedy Colin From Accounts. He also developed Dead to Me, and American Vandal at Netflix. He will continue to develop scripted comedies and alternative titles for CBS Studios while maintaining oversight of animated development across the CBS, Comedy Central and MTV brands.

In more executive news, Ashley Kaplan, who previously served as Nickelodeon’s EVP of Unscripted and Digital Franchise Studios, will shift into a consulting role on Monday, April 13, supporting the TV Media division on special projects through the end of the year.

Kaplan had been co-running the animated studio with Botnick for the past four months. Back in November, three months after former CBS President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Cheeks added oversight of Paramount cable brands such as MTV, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon and BET in his new role as Paramount’s Chair of TV Media, he unveiled leadership for most divisions.

Kaplan and Botnick were tapped at the time to oversee Nickelodeon Animation Studios. Over her seven-year tenure at Nickelodeon, Kaplan has shepherded the company’s large YouTube output in form of short-form content, including Kid Cowboy.

Jules Borkent, EVP of Global Commercial Partnerships and Operations, will continue to oversee the business and strategy of Nickelodeon Kids & Family.

Read Cheeks' memo in its entirety below:

Team,  

I’m excited to announce that Alec Botnick has been appointed President of Nickelodeon Animation Studios. Alec will lead Nickelodeon Animation Studios into its next chapter, while also continuing his current role as EVP of CBS Studios comedy development, alternative & animation. Similar to BET Studios, Nickelodeon Animation Studios will now operate as its own label for television within CBS Studios.

For Nickelodeon, Alec will oversee the animation studio and its evolution across digital, TV and streaming as we reimagine how we meet today’s kids and families. Alec’s leadership will be essential in shaping our next phase as Nickelodeon reinvents how we reach preschoolers, starting where discovery happens first and evolving into a true multi-platform brand. He also will lead Nickelodeon’s unscripted programming for television, including the Kids’ Choice Awards, while also guiding the development of new series and overseeing our long-running hits, ensuring Nickelodeon remains home to the world’s most iconic kids’ franchises like SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS, TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES, PAW PATROL and more.  

Alec will continue to develop scripted comedies and alternative projects for CBS Studios, as well as maintain oversight of animated development across the CBS, Comedy Central and MTV brands for owned and third-party platforms. Series and projects Alec has helped develop include GHOSTS and ETERNALLY YOURS for CBS, the critically acclaimed Australian comedy COLIN FROM ACCOUNTS for Paramount+ and the animated series “Odd Jobs” for Prime Video.  

I also want to share that Ashley Kaplan will transition to a consulting role beginning Monday. In this capacity, she will support the TV Media division on special projects through the end of the year. We are grateful to Ashley for her years of leadership and appreciate her continued partnership.  

Jules Borkent, executive vice president of global commercial partnerships and operations, will continue to oversee Nickelodeon Kids & Family’s business and strategy, working in partnership with Alec and other key stakeholders to maximize the Nick brand.  

Please join me in congratulating Alec on this well-deserved role. I’m excited for what’s ahead as we continue building the next chapter of Nickelodeon.  

All the best,  

George

Development Alert: Electric Bloom Cancelled On Disney Channel After One Season

Electric Bloom is an American musical comedy television series created by Alex Fox, Eric Friedman, and Rachel Lewis that premiered on July 10, 2025 on Disney Channel. The series stars Lumi Pollack, Carmen Sanchez, Ruby Marino, and Nathaniel Buescher.

Synopsis for Electric Bloom

It follows a famous pop music group called "Electric Bloom" consists of Posey Parker, Jade Castillo, and Tulip Aoki where they named their group over the fact that they have flower-based names. Electric Bloom reflects on their story on how they became the biggest band in the world on their "Ask Us Anything" livestream, starting from the day they met in 9th grade at Edison County High School and became a school band.

According to Production Weekly, Disney Channel had renewed Vampirina: Teenage Vampire and Wizards Beyond Waverly Place for further seasons. In these strings of shows, Electric Bloom was apparently left out leading to speculation it got the axe.

In recent years, Disney Channel hasn't been upfront about the status of most of their shows as the focus has shifted to streaming. The company now relies on Disney+ to determine whether any of these shows sink or swim.

Historically, Disney had often adhered to a "65-episode rule," where many shows were ended regardless of popularity to keep the brand fresh and manage costs. Today, this has evolved into a "soft cancellation" strategy where underperforming shows are simply left without updates.

With the cancellation of Electric Bloom and the final season renewal of Wizards Beyond Waverly Place. This would leave Vampirina: Teenage Vampire and the upcoming series Coven Academy as the only live-action to broadcast on Disney Channel.

Development Alert: Lente Na Die Storm Will Be Making It's Linear Debut On eExtra, Maanligsprokie And Uzozisola - Regrets To Follow On e.tv

After being allocated on eVOD last year, Lente Na Die Storm will now be allocated on eExtra from Sunday 24 May. The company recently published it's ratings card where details of potential new shows was revealed.

Also joining the lineup will be the newly added Maanligsprokie from eVOD alongside Uzozisola - Regrets both of which are slated for e.tv. With Uzozisola - Regrets that will be returning on eExtra in the coming weeks.

A rebroadcast of Chrysalis S3 will also be allocated on e.tv weekdays at 09:30.

It should be noted that eMedia Investments hadn't provided dates to any of the broadcasts on e.tv but these shows appear on their ratings card each with a timeslot inserted on them. We can only assume it will come into effect between April and May.

Synopsis for Lente Na Die Storm 

It follows the dramatic journey of a devoted housewife who rediscovers her self-worth after a medical emergency forces her to reevaluate her life. Bahar graduated from medical school 20 years ago but sacrificed her career to be a devoted wife and mother.

She is married to Timur Yavuzoglu, a successful and well-respected surgeon. From the outside, they appear to have a happy and comfortable life. Bahar's world is shattered when she suddenly collapses and is diagnosed with a severe liver illness.

As she faces a life-or-death situation, Bahar discovers that her husband, Timur, and his mother have been hiding a terrible secret from her. Bahar also learns that Timur has been having an affair with his colleague, Rengin, for many years.

A liver transplant is her only hope for survival, and tests show that Timur is a compatible donor. However, he is unwilling to donate his liver and tries to convince Bahar's doctor to let her die. 

After surviving, Bahar decides she will no longer be a victim. She returns to the hospital to complete her medical residency. She must navigate the difficulties of working with her estranged husband their resident son, and Timur's affair partner, Rengin.

Less Brands, Less Confusion, More Simplicity, Cheaper Packages And Cheaper Decoders. - Canal+ S.A. On DStv

Canal+ unveiled its financial year results ending 31 March 2026 and gave some indicators on where things stand for them with MultiChoice. They acquired the company last year with plans to its rollout its streaming service in place of Showmax.

Unfortunately, Showmax will go dark by the end of April and Canal+ plans to move further shows onto DStv Stream as consumers await for their dedicated app.

Also on the cards is a further restructuring to the DStv services as it was mentioned by the company that MultiChoice way too much. Aside from DStv Premium to Easyview, there's also AddMovies, Insurance and the Explora Ultra.

Showmax formed part of this as it offered a Premier League subscription and a discounted rate for DStv consumers. With it being shuttered, this is one way they're trying to make simplier for consumers.

Canal+ plans to deploy a 1000 salespeople in MultiChoice markets and help them get commission if they're able to push DStv decoders to homes. It appears the focus has shifted toward their mass market or should I say lower paying consumers.

Not long ago, it was that Canal+ might have shelved yet to launch DStv Ultra decoder as it was deemed too expensive for the African market. These sales people aren't pushing Explora type decoders into Africa but DStv ones as they're affordable.

Some consumers probably noticed that Canal+ also brought down the prices to some of MultiChoice's services in the market. The plan is to duplicate this onto DStv packages across Africa and there's no word on how they plan to do all this.

According to Thinus Ferreira, Canal+ outlined it's plans as so: less brands, less confusion, more simplicity, cheaper packages and cheaper decoders.

If you look at how all of this is being worded out, the only way I can see them achieve this level of simplicity is to restructure DStv packages. There's massive overlaps between DStv Family and Compact as well as Premium and Compact+.

Maybe Canal+ will look to merge it's Compact+ and Premium offering into one package with Compact and Family forming the other. There had been talks since last year about unbundling SuperSport from the DStv offering maybe that will be factored in.

MultiChoice also offered a Chinese, Bollywood, French and Portuguese package. I'd imagine Canal+ would want to deploy Tout Canal+ in place of DStv French and likely scrap the Chinese package with further reductions to Bollywood and Portuguese.

In South Africa, MultiChoice even consolidated it's Portuguese offering onto remaining DStv packages. For all we know, Canal+ could look to duplicate this in more African countries. 

April 2026 On Investigation Discovery, Travel Channel, Real Time And Discovery Family Across Africa | Brand New!!! The Cult Behind the Killer: The Andrea Yates Story | Returning Shows Including Texas Metal | More

Investigation Discovery

The Cult Behind the Killer: The Andrea Yates Story

Brand New

A mother's breakdown. A cult's grip. Events that shock the world. Discover how a preacher fuels the Yates family’s tragedy.

First TX: 5 April

TX Day: Sunday

TX Time: 21:00

Last TX: 5 April

Hunt For The Missing: Chicago S1

Brand New

Retired Detective Pam Childs reignites investigations into Chicago’s most gripping missing person cases.

First TX: 10 April

TX Day: Friday

TX Time: 21:00

Last TX: 15 May

Killer Confessions: Case Files of a Texas Ranger

Brand New

An elite Texas Ranger with a reputation as a serial killer whisperer gets stunning confessions to unsolved murders across the country.

First TX: 16 April

TX Day: Thursday

TX Time: 21:00

Last TX: 4 June

Dog Detectives S1

New to Channel

Meet the unsung heroes of the crime-fighting world

First TX: 26 April

TX Day: Wednesday

TX Time: 22:00

Last TX: 1 July

Travel Channel

Returning shows include House Hunters International S137, 138 on 1 April at 06:00 and Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives S5 on 7 April at 13:30.

Discovery Family 

Bad Chad Customs S1

NEW TO CHANNEL

A master builder and his tight-knit team can turn metal from the junkyards into award-winning cars.

First TX: 2 April

TX Day: Thursday

TX Time: 17:35

Last TX: 7 May

Returning shows including Gold Divers S7 from 1 April at 19:15, Fast N' Loud S6 from 1 April at 14:10 and Texas Metal S6 from 3 April at 16:45.

Real Time

My Lottery Dream Home International S1

NEW TO CHANNEL

British designer Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen joins European lottery winners on their search for a dream home.

First TX: 6 April

TX Day: Weekdays

TX Time: 14:35

Last TX: 24 April

Returning shows including Murder Comes To Town S5 from 4 April on 23:20, Tiny House Hunters S4 from 6 April at 15:25, Girl Meets Farm S6 & S7 from 9 April at 12:55 and Guy! Hawaiian Style S1 from 13 April at 12:05.

Maanligsprokie, Brand New Turkish Drama Streaming On eVOD From 13 April

eVOD, a South African based streaming service offering a variety of locally produced and international content has announced the addition of Maanligsprokie. With the Turkish drama set to stream on the platform from Monday 13 April.

Known in Turkey as Bir Gece Masali, it starred Burak Deniz as Mahir Yilmaz, Su Burcu Yazgi Coskun as Canfeza Kilimci, Gurkan Uygun as Kursat Kilimci, Mesut Akusta as Rasit Kara, Ozlem Turkad as Sureyya Yilmaz, Eren Vurdem as Selim Allame and Irem Altug as Sevde Yilmaz.

The series concluded on ATV with 35 episodes each with a 2 hour duration. It received recognition at the Current Knowledge Awards, winning "Best Television Series of the Year," while the leads won "Jury Special Best Series Couple".

Synopsis for Maanligsprokie 

Mahir is a successful police commissioner. After his father’s death, he follows his father’s footsteps and succeeds as a successful police commissioner to find the culprits who killed his father.

Twenty years later, Mahir returns to the city where his father was murdered. He is determined to exact revenge on the person who is responsible for his father’s death.

Kursat Kilimci is a wealthy businessman who killed Mahir’s father years ago. Behind the identity of a businessman, he does illegal things. He does anything to protect his status and maintain his power.

The lives of Mahir and Kursat Kilimci intersect twenty years later.

The moment Mahir sets foot in the city, he is enchanted by a beautiful girl, whom he meets mystically. He gives the name of Sehrazade to this girl as he is unable to learn her true name. Mahir falls in love with this girl at first sight even though he does not know anything about her.

The girl with whom Mahir falls in love is Canfeza. She is the daughter of Kursat Kilimci.

Canfeza is a young girl who was born on the same day when Mahir’s father was murdered. On that day, Canfeza’s mother also passed away while giving birth. Since then, Canfeza has been bearing the guilt of her father on her shoulders.

Canfeza has a dream where she sees the star and crescent in her hands with blood. Her grandmother states that the star and crescent represent her destiny and the blood represents his father’s guilt. She believes that she will get married to a man who has a star and crescent. However, she needs to get rid of his father’s guilt which is intertwined with her destiny.

April 2026 On Discovery Channel, TLC, HGTV And Food Network Across Africa | Channel Premiere: Neighborhood Watch | Returning Shows Including Bad Skin Clinic | More

Discovery Channel 

CHORNOBYL: DAYS THAT SHOCKED THE WORLD

BRAND NEW

The Chernobyl meltdown remains the world’s worst nuclear accident. Today, the disaster still haunts survivors, while the clean-up operation will continue for another 40 years. Days that Shocked the World explores the most iconic disasters of the last 50 years, combining eye-witness testimony with powerful archive footage, to learn how each tragedy changed both the lives of individuals and the world.

First TX: 26 April

TX Day: Sunday

TX Time: 21:00

Last TX: 26 April

Returning shows include OUTBACK OPAL HUNTERS S8B from 7 April at 20:05 and SALVAGE HUNTERS S19A from 23 April at 20:05.

TLC

* for the rest of Africa 

Homes Gone Wild S1

NEW TO CHANNEL 

Jack McBrayer tours some of America's wackiest and wildest homes that have recently been on the real estate market.

TX Day: Sunday

TX Time: 21:00

Last TX: 17 May

* Star vs. Food: Malaysia S1 & S2

NEW TO CHANNEL

Malaysian celebrities learn to cook with some of the

most well-known restaurant chefs for their private

dinner parties with friends or family.

First TX: 7 April

TX Day: Tuesday

TX Time: 21:00

Last TX: 26 May

Returning shows include My Strange Addiction S7 from 4 April at 21:00, Welcome to Plathville S8 from 6 April at 20:00, Seeking Sister Wife S6 from 21 April at 20:00 and *The Bad Skin Clinic S8 from 24 April at 21:00.

HGTV

Neighborhood Watch S1

BRAND NEW

Take a front-row seat to the wild and unexpected events that unfold as home cameras record hilarious, shocking, and downright bizarre moments.

First TX: 20 April

TX Day: Monday

TX Time: 22:00

Last TX: 8 June

Anything But Gray S1

BRAND NEW

Designer Gray Benko, along with her dad Grumpy and design partner Chelcie, creates stunning home makeovers using bold color and Southern charm.

First TX: 28 April

TX Day: Tuesday

TX Time: 22:00

Last TX: 2 June

Returning shows include Home Town S9 from 8 April at 21:00.

Food Network

Food Trail: South Africa S1

Brand New

Warren Mendes sets out on a culinary journey through the regions of South Africa, exploring the flavours and culture on offer from Cape Town to Johannesburg.

First TX: 26 April

TX Day: Sunday

TX Time: 11:30

Last TX: 21 June

Maneet's Eats S1

Brand New

Chef Maneet Chauhan breaks down how to make all the most craveable Indian dishes, from the market to the dinner table.

First TX: 9 April

TX Day: Thursday

TX Time: 16:05

Last TX: 23 April

Returning shows include Chopped S62 from 29 April at 16:05 and Be My Guest with Ina Garten S6 & S7 from 9 April at 17:00.

April 2026 On TNT Across Africa | Fam-Tastic Weekend With Channel Premiere: Paddington | Offbeat Heroes With Channel Premiere: Diablo | More

* Channel premieres in bold

Fam-Tastic Weekend

Stunt

Celebrate the long weekend with TNT Africa’s Fam-Tastic mix of comedy, action, and feel-good fun - four days of family-friendly entertainment perfect for cosy holiday co-viewing.

Friday, 3 April

15:40 The Boss Baby (2017)

17:20 Kung Fu Panda (2008)

18:55 Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011)

20:30 Paddington (2014)

Saturday, 4 April

15:10 Journey to the Center of the Earth (2008)

16:45 Journey 2: The Mysterious Island (2012)

18:20 Shrek The Third (2007)

20:00 Rat Race (2001)

Sunday, 5 April

14:55 Penguins of Madagascar (2014)

16:30 Happy Feet (2006)

18:20 The Croods (2013)

20:00 Legendary (2010)

Monday, 6 April

15:35 Despicable Me (2010)

17:10 Despicable Me 2 (2013)

18:55 Despicable Me 3 (2017)

20:30 Sky Kids (2008)

Offbeat Heroes

Stunt

Meet the heroes who don’t play by the rules. Every Thursday, TNT Africa brings a double dose of sharp action, bold attitude, and unpredictable energy - perfect for fans of characters who stand out.

Thursday, 2 April

18:50 Emily The Criminal (2022)

20:30 Non-Stop (2013)

Thursday 9, April

18:50 Guns Akimbo (2019)

20:30 Beast of Burden (2018)

Thursday, 16 April

18:25 Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

20:30 Diablo (2025)

Thursday, 23 April

18:45 Kick-Ass 2 (2000)

20:30 Total Recall (1990)

Thursday, 30 April

18:30 American Made (2017)

20:30 Bull (2021)

Chasing Freedom

Stunt

Celebrate Freedom Day with gripping tales of survival, courage, and the fight to break free. Chasing Freedom brings intense, inspiring movies that honour the strength it takes to rise above.

Monday, 27 April

14:50 I am Legend (2007)

16:35 First Blood (1982)

18:10 Apocalypto (2006)

20:30 The Revenant (2015)

TNT Hit

Stunt

Synopsis: On the hunt for a fabled treasure of gold, a band of warriors, assassins, and a

rogue British soldier descend upon a village in feudal China, where a humble blacksmith looks

to defend himself and his fellow villagers.

Saturday, 11 April

20:00 The Man with the Iron Fists (2012)

Canal+ May Look To Add Adult Entertainment Channels To MultiChoice's DStv

Almost a decade ago, StarSat served as one of the few pay-tv providers to offer adult entertainment channels to viewers in Africa. Before it's closure in South Africa, they had attempted to offer Hustlers TV and a bundle of channels until they got the axe.

Despite StarSat playing it safe ensuring it was only broadcast between 20:00 to 05:00, even requiring subscribers to add parental control to ensure minors don't have access to such material. The backlash and legal rambling wasn't enough to keep it on air.

ICASA was even involved throughout the whole process and even gave StarSat the greenlight to distribute the content as an add-on in South Africa.

MultiChoice at one point attempted to offer an adult entertainment channel and even did market research before going against it. Then again, their former CEO stated that some people misinterpreted the idea on how it would be distributed.

Now MultiChoice's new owners Canal+ is exploring the possibility of rolling out the following to DStv consumers:

* Hustler TV: Owned by the famous Hustler brand, this channel airs a mix of adult movies, including hardcore features and parodies.

* Vixen TV: This channel focuses on high-end, "cinematic" adult content that often has higher production values than typical adult films.

* Private TV: A long-standing European brand known for high-budget, "blockbuster" style adult movies with more of a focus on storytelling.

* Penthouse TV: Linked to the famous magazine, this channel typically features high-quality adult films and erotic specials. 

Canal+ Africa's CEO David Mignot stated Canal+ has always offered adult entertainment channels, but added that the idea is to comply with each country’s local regulations and sensitivities.

As mentioned, there's no laws that prohibit such content from being broadcast in South Africa as ICASA is involved throughout the whole process. But the backlash and legal rambling (or should I say "sensitivities") makes it a no no for South Africa.

Although some reports from late 2025 suggest certain adult sites had more viewers in South Africa than News24 whose peak comes during elections or national crises. 

More DStv Channels Coming Soon To Canal+ Afrique

Canal+ Afrique which serves as MultiChoice's French equivalent in Africa has distributed various DStv channels like Zee World, Studio Universal and Africa Magic Igbo. This is because MultiChoice was acquired by Canal+ Afrique's owners in late 2025.

This gave Canal+ Afrique access to M-Net's local archives as well as brands like Telemundo and Universal TV whose availability was exclusive to only MultiChoice consumers.

In exchange, MultiChoice was given access to Canal+'s local endeavours with Pulaayu and Zacu Entertainment alongside StudioCanal.

During the year, it was reported that Canal+ Afrique's DStv English Plus consumers had gained access to WWE, La Liga and Studio Universal. It appears that the broadcaster is looking to expand on this with Fishing TV, History and Comedy Central.

HISTORY: It broadcasts documentaries and shows about historical events, ancient civilizations, wars, mysteries, biographies, and factual entertainment.

Comedy Central: It specializes in comedy — stand-up specials, sitcoms (like South Park, The Office reruns, or local adaptations), sketch shows, and humorous series.

Fishing TV: A niche channel dedicated to fishing and angling. It features fishing shows, tutorials, documentaries, competitions, travel to fishing spots worldwide, and content for recreational anglers (freshwater, saltwater, fly fishing, etc.).

Canal+ is adding more sports channels 

Also on the cards is SuperSport Events, Variety, Africa 1 and 2 which builds onto speculation that Canal+ Afrique may be looking to distribute SuperSport's entire offering. This is due to Grandstand's presence on the platform.

MultiChoice distributes Grandstand exclusively to its top paying clients on DStv Premium. If it were to resurface on Canal+ Afrique perhaps a lot cheaper it would diminish the value for the brand.

S-Events: This is a sports events channel. It focuses on major live sports broadcasts, special events, and key matches or competitions (often football, rugby, or other high-profile games that don't fit on the main Canal+ Sport channel).

Grandstand: A dedicated sports channel, similar to "Grandstand" formats elsewhere (like SuperSport Grandstand). It provides extensive live sports coverage, multi-event switching, highlights, and analysis — ideal for following several games or tournaments at once.

Africa: This channel features African-focused content, including local and pan-African movies, series, music, cultural shows, news, and entertainment tailored to African audiences.

Africa 2: A companion to Africa, offering more African programming — often additional movies, series, or variety content from across the continent (sometimes with a slightly different emphasis, like more Nollywood-style films or regional shows).

Variety 1: A general entertainment and variety channel. It typically airs a mix of movies, series, talk shows, music, reality TV, and lighter programming for broad appeal.

Canal+ Madagascar shared the news on their social platforms on April 1st (APRIL FOOLS) before taking it down and I doubt Canal+ would go through all that work and just lie. It could be that it was announced too early or they're still trying to finalize things.

Dr. Aarambhi, Brand New Medical Drama Launches On Star Khanya

Star Khanya, a Zulu dubbed Bollywood channel offering a variety of series and movies will be adding a new medical drama, Dr. Aarambhi. It will air daily at 17:30 from 22 April replacing Elinye Ithuba.

Synopsis for Dr. Aarambhi 

Aarambhi lives within a powerful medical family where her husband, Dr. Vishwas, is the public face of their legacy. While he appears to be an ideal, progressive husband to the world, he is secretly controlling and manipulative, eroding Aarambhi's confidence until she doubts her own intelligence.

Aarambhi discovers that Vishwas has been unfaithful and is involved with Dr. Avantika. The plot thickens when she overhears Vishwas plotting to eliminate her to end a potential custody battle so he can marry Avantika.

Instead of seeking revenge, Aarambhi focuses on a "restart." She defies her husband’s control to pursue her long-lost dream of practicing medicine, aiming to prove her worth both professionally and as a mother.

Dr. Aarambhi premiered on Colors TV (from 27 January 2026) a few months ago and joins a slate of Colors TV shows to have launched during the year including Mannat and You Are My Love.

The series starred Aishwarya Khare as Dr. Aarambhi, Aditya Redij as Dr. Vishwas, Anjuum Faakih as Dr. Avantika, Abhishek Verma as Dr. Raj, Sumit Singh as Dr. Manmeet and Lubna Salim Dr. Dimple.

Ungapheli Amandla, A Brand New Series Launches On Star Khanya

Star Khanya, a Zulu dubbed Bollywood channel offering a variety of series and movies will be adding a new drama, Ungapheli Amandla. It will broadcast daily at 21:00 from 24 April replacing Unami Na? once it ends.

Synopsis for Ungapheli Amandla 

It follows the story of a woman’s resilience against abandonment and a later generational saga following her daughter's quest for justice.

Megha marries Manoj Kohli, an NRI who presents himself as her "Prince Charming". However, the marriage is a fraud; Manoj is a conman who abandons her shortly after the wedding to flee with her family's savings.

Instead of succumbing to societal pressure or grief, Megha resolves to track him down. She finds an ally in Arjun Talwar, an IAS officer who is already investigating a series of NRI marriage scams.

It is eventually revealed that Manoj is not just a petty con artist but the head of a major criminal organization. 

Known in India as Megha Barsenge, it was broadcast on Colors TV from 6 August 2024 and concluded on 26 June 2025. It starred Neha Rana as Megha Arjun Talwar and Megha "Mannu" Talwar; Neil Bhatt as Arjun Talwar and Kabir Khanna.

Development Alert: Kelders Van Geheime Will Broadcast An Hour Early On e.tv As It Moves From 7PM To 6PM

 With e.tv looking to allocate the eVOD limited series Phoenix to e.tv there was questions on what is become of the remainder of Kelders Van Geheime. As it was confirmed by the broadcaster that it would be cancelled after two seasons.

To no one's surprise, e.tv will be adjusting their schedule yet again by removing Judge Judy from its 4PM timeslot again and having Sout Van Die Aarde start 30 minutes early. With Yosef that will come after Sout Van Die Aarde now at 5PM.

Kelders Van Geheime will move to 6PM after going through multiple timeslot changes last year. It was stated by e.tv that by moving Kelders Van Geheime to a later timeslot would give more viewers a chance to watch the show.

Now they're going back on that promise and making it difficult for some viewers to watch during primetime. 

In other developments, Chrysalis will be concluding on eExtra later in the month with Bloedspoor set to return for a second season. Dokter Ali is also said to be concluding during the month with a rebroadcast of Bittersoet set to replace the show.

DStv Stream Becomes The New Home To Showmax Originals

At a glance:

• Showmax Originals move to DStv Stream, bringing streaming, live TV and sport together in one app

• DStv Compact, Compact Plus and Premium customers already have access to thousands of hours of Showmax Originals on DStv Stream 

• Showmax subscribers to get trial access to DStv Stream Compact until end May

• Stay active on Stream and continue at $6 per month for 12 months – up to 75% off standard pricing

DStv has announced that eligible Showmax subscribers will receive trial access to DStv Stream Compact for a limited period, as part of the move to a single streaming home on DStv Stream.

This move brings Showmax Originals together with live TV, sport and a broader range of entertainment in one app. After the trial period, qualifying customers can continue on DStv Stream Compact at a special price of $6 per month for 12 months, provided the subscription remains active throughout and payments are up to date.

The offer gives Showmax customers access to a significantly expanded content experience, including international series and movies, kids’ content and live sport via SuperSport, available on mobile devices and smart TVs. DStv Stream also includes features such as Watch From Start, offline downloads and data management tools.

The business priority is to ensure customers continue to have a home for the stories they love. By bringing thousands of hours of Showmax Originals and a deeper on-demand library into DStv Stream, we are creating a more holistic experience where live sport, news, the best international content and award-winning local drama live together.

DStv Compact, Compact Plus and Premium customers will benefit from access to Showmax content on DStv Stream at no additional cost.

How the trial access works

Eligible Showmax subscribers will receive trial access to DStv Stream Compact until the end of May. The offer and details on how to take up the offer will be communicated directly via the email address linked to their Showmax account.

After the trial period, customers can continue on DStv Stream Compact at $6 per month for 12 months, provided payments remain up to date.

The offer applies to qualifying customers, including Showmax subscribers who do not have an active DStv subscription and who subscribe directly to Showmax. It excludes existing DStv customers who already receive Showmax content as part of their package or who add Showmax to their DStv bill.

• Eligibility is confirmed via email sent to the Showmax account address

• Includes all Showmax plans, including Showmax Premier League

• Eligible customers receive free access until end May, then pay $6 per month for 12 months – a saving of up to 75% compared to standard DStv • Compact Stream pricing – as long as payments remain up to date.

• Standard pricing for DStv Stream Compact is from $32 per month.

Showmax subscriptions will not migrate automatically. Customers who wish to continue watching will need to follow the simple sign-up process for DStv Stream shared via email, and create a new profile, all of which takes less than five minutes.

Customers who choose not to move to DStv Stream may request a refund for any unused portion of their Showmax subscription, subject to standard terms and conditions. Autopayments to Showmax will stop automatically once the service is discontinued.

The Showmax platform will be discontinued on 30 April 2026, with Showmax Originals continuing on DStv Stream.

What to watch on DStv Stream

Alongside thousands of hours of Showmax Originals, look out for the highly anticipated true-crime series, The People vs VBS, which is available to binge on DStv Stream from 1 April, as well as the finale of Die Kantoor, the Afrikaans adaptation of the global sensation mockumentary, The Office, coming 14 April. Law, Love and Betrayal will continue weekly episodes of the thrilling legal drama, and football lovers can livestream the epic Soweto Derby, on a big screen, on 26 April on DStv Stream.

Development Alert: Cacau Returns To Telemundo For A Season 2 Across Africa

Telemundo, an Spanish based entertainment channel that offers telenovelas from Latin America and Mexico has announced the return of Cacau. Season 2 will be broadcast from 4 May at 22:00 CAT replacing The Woman In Charge.

Recap on Cacau

The series focuses on intense kidnappings, deep family secrets, and romance on cocoa plantations, with the second part expected to resolve cliffhangers involving characters like Cacau, Tiago, and villainous plots.

The previous season concluded with Tiago seeking advice from his mother, Júlia, and essentially deciding to step back or leave to give himself—and Cacau—space, unaware that he was leaving his own child behind.

Sal, who reconciled with Cacau at that final dinner, becomes the one person who might actually help bridge the gap between Cacau and Tiago, as she has no loyalty left for her mother, Simone.

Justino’s death (which follows shortly after that dinner) triggers a legal war.

In a major reveal, the character Baobá finally breaks her long-held oath of silence, providing key testimony that impacts the other characters. 

It starred Matilde Reymão as Clara Cacau Coutinho/Vaz Pereira, José Condessa as Tiago Saavedra, Alexandra Lencastre as Simone Vaz Pereira and Carolina Amaral Salomé "Sal" Eugénia Vaz Pereira.

MultiChoice Might Be Looking To Revive The 1Max Channel As Showmax Cutoff Date Draws Near

After Canal+'s MultiChoice decided to shutter the struggling Showmax streaming service in the African market by the end of April. It looks like 1Max could be making a comeback to DStv likely as a pop-up channel.

Canal+ is in the process of deploying its own streaming service in MultiChoice territories as Showmax gets consolidated under DStv Stream. The plan is to have a dedicated section for the former streamer and make it accessible to Compact.

A test card for 1Max had been spotted through DStv Stream and in an enquiry to MultiChoice only responded to say "more content will be added on".

If anyone has to guess, MultiChoice is probably planning to revive 1Max to promote this dedicated section on DStv Stream. It might also serve as some tribute channel seeing as Showmax will be going dark soon.

MultiChoice had begun moving remaining Showmax Originals to Mzansi Magic, KykNET and Africa Magic. It's likely that the relaunched 1Max will lean toward Showmax's older library of content.

By the time Canal+ deploys it's streaming app, don't be surprised if 1Max disappeared again and this section on DStv Stream. Then again, Canal+ could morph this into a TV channel for its streaming app when it goes live later in the year.

Could Siyaya TV Be Looking To Debut Another TV Channel On DStv?

Since last month, MultiChoice had begun test running a duplicate feed to Moja 9.9. on DStv platforms. The channel is known for airing older seasons to shows on Moja Love including X-Repo, Uyajola 9/9 and Kasi-2-Kasi.

Of course, the version MultiChoice had been test running for DStv households has a separate feed to the current Moja 9.9. It does lead to us wonder if Siyaya TV could as well be looking to build up localised feed if not rollout a separate channel.

MultiChoice has a bunch of TV channels with localised feeds including M-Net, M-Net Movies 1, TLC, Zee World, Disney Channel and Nickelodeon.

It's kind of alarming that there's a separate feed to Moja 9.9. in development if anything it would have made more sense if it was Moja Love. As its usually flagship brands that get this type of 5 star treatment not subordinates.

Maybe Moja 9.9. is just serving as a placeholder for the actual channel that MultiChoice is looking to add soon. It's also possible that this channel may never launch as Media24's Via went through a similar scenario a few years back.

Reminder: Bloedspoor Crawls It's Way Back To eExtra For A Second Season

eExtra, a general entertainment channel operated by eMedia Investments that offers telenovelas from Turkey and around the world has announced the return of Bloedspoor. The second season is scheduled to replace Chrysalis on 13 April at 21:00.

Synopsis for Bloedspoor S2

This season shifts from the investigation of a single murder to a broader, more psychological series of interlocking crimes that test the marriage of Ilgaz Kaya and Ceylin Erguvan. It begins with the discovery of four bodies in a well, setting off a dark new investigation. 

Ilgaz theorizes that the "Well Killer" is attempting to create a "target family" by abducting specific people to play roles in a twisted psychological game. Ceylin becomes one of the abducted targets and is held captive with others, forced to fight for survival while Ilgaz frantically searches for her.

It also explores the death of Serdar (a recurring antagonist from Season 1) shocks both families. Ceylin finds herself torn between protecting her family and her belief in justice when her niece, Parla, confesses to the crime.

Kaan Urgancıoğlu (Ilgaz Kaya) and Pınar Deniz (Ceylin Erguvan Kaya) reprise their roles in this season. This season will star Doğaç Yıldız as Ömer Tilmen/Yakup Atamer, Samet Kaan Kuyucu as Burak Yıldırım and Emir Özden as Tolga Çırmak.

Canal+ Might Look To Reduce Local Commentary At SuperSport

As some people may have heard, the Competition Commission is monitoring Canal+ following it's acquisition of MultiChoice in 2025. This includes the company's decision to shut down Showmax with voluntarily retrenchments also underway.

According to Rapport, there's growing fear amongst the media that Canal+ could look to reduce local commentary at SuperSport. This is because the French giant can't retrench staff and are looking for ways to save money.

One way they could look to save up on costs is by scrapping Afrikaans commentary during cricket matches. Especially if there's not much people using this option when the games are broadcast.

Not long ago, Solidarity had questioned SuperSport, on its decision for not providing Afrikaans commentary for the New Zealand series. Their claim was later rebuffed after it was revealed that no local commentary was done at all.

This was because of the low viewership count for these matches and even when they do broadcast matches with SA teams. It's normal for some matches to not be dubbed while others that do usually cover several local languages.

There was also concerns about Canal+ scaling back on locally produced shows for more dubbed series as seen with the American drama, Landman. 

It was stated by them that it would make no sense in scaling back this offering as it serves as a core component in their strategy. Making Landman available in Afrikaans only helps broaden the reach of this offering to more consumers.

Why A Revival Of M-Net's 1Magic And Me Is Unlikely?

Two years ago, MultiChoice and NBCUniversal unveiled the revamped Showmax streaming service which served as a distribution outlet for Universal Pictures, DreamWorks Animation and Telemundo. It even bolstered originals like Youngins and Adulting.

During that time, MultiChoice and M-Net also made the decision to do away with Me and 1Magic as part of its efforts to get more people onto Showmax. This had yielded lackluster success as Canal+ deemed the streamer a "commercial failure".

Under the Naspers regime, MultiChoice had put a lot of hopes in creating a rival for Netflix since 2024 but the losses continued to double each year. That Canal+ made the decision to discontinue Showmax and deploy its own streaming app in these markets.

With MultiChoice doing away with Showmax, there's several DStv consumers that are probably wondering if these means we'll getting back our M-Net Essentials (Me) and 1Magic.

If I had to be honest this kind of seems unlikely.

DStv had been in decline for several years with the consumer base that once hit the 20 million mark under 15 million. The losses spread across all areas of DStv with Canal+ looking to restructure these packages in order to gain more consumers.

Another reason I don't see anything like these channels coming  has to do with their streamlining endeavours post the relaunch of Showmax.

When 1Magic was first introduced a lot of people in the media didn't like the fact that MultiChoice was creating competition and diluting value from Mzansi Magic. Same goes for Me, reviving it would only dilute the value of Universal TV and Bravo.

Universal TV has got a lot more purpose after the cancellation of Me with The Equalizer, Hudson & Rex and NCIS. Same for Bravo, if 1Magic existed, people wouldn't dare watch to have watched The Real Housewives as the later season was on 1Magic.

Even under Canal+, it doesn't seem like they plan to launch any variants of these channels anytime soon. As Canal+ Afrique already distributes these channels for its Francophone Africa audiences through the DStv English Plus add-on.

However it appears they found new ways of getting these shows to more DStv consumers. As Landman had found its way onto KykNET after being made available exclusively on M-Net and I wouldn't be surprised if we got to see King & Conqueror.

Either way KykNET's induction into the international scene wouldn't dilute what's seen on Universal TV as they'd prioritise authenticity from Binnelanders and Tussen Ons.

Development Alert: uMakhwapheni To Make Its Freemium Debut On Zee One In South Africa

Zee One, an English dubbed Bollywood channel operated by Zee Entertainment Enterprises and spinoff to Zee World will now be importing shows from Zee Zonke. With uMakhwapheni being the first entry to consumers in South Africa.

Following Zee Zonke's successful launch on DStv, eMedia Investments had attempted to replicate this offering with the short lived Uzozisola Regrets. With JioStar that launched Star Khanya into the market as a rivalled broadcaster to the lineup.

With Zee Zonke being confined to DStv, Zee TV is using Zee One's existing footprint to increase its reach. Zee One will not only be competing with Star Life but also Star Khanya when uMakhwapheni launches on 30th March at 7PM CAT.

Synopsis for uMakhwapheni 

The story follows Radhika, a devoted and somewhat overprotective wife, whose life is turned upside down when she discovers her husband, Gurunath (often called "Garry"), is having an affair with his trendy colleague, Shanaya. 

Gurunath leaves Radhika for Shanaya, even attempting to kick Radhika out of their home.

Instead of giving up, Radhika undergoes a massive transformation. With the support of her friend Saumitra, she works hard to build her own business, eventually founding a successful spice company called Radhika Masale.

In a major twist, Radhika becomes the boss of the very company where Gurunath and Shanaya work, leaving them shocked by her success.

As the drama unfolds, Shanaya eventually realizes Gurunath's true nature and switches sides to help Radhika. Radhika moves on from her toxic marriage and eventually finds true love and happiness with Saumitra. 

Known in India as Majhya Navaryachi Bayko, uMakhwapheni launches on Zee One from 30th March at 6PM CAT.

Development Alert: Onesipho To Make Its Freemium Debut On Zee One In South Africa

Zee One, an English dubbed Bollywood channel operated by Zee Entertainment Enterprises and spinoff to Zee World will also air shows from Zee Zonke. With Onesipho being another entry to consumers in SA following uMakhwapheni.

Following Zee Zonke's successful launch on DStv, eMedia Investments had attempted to replicate this offering with the short lived Uzozisola Regrets. With JioStar that launched Star Khanya into the market as a rivalled broadcaster to the lineup.

With Zee Zonke being confined to DStv, Zee TV is using Zee One's existing footprint to increase its reach. Zee One will not only be competing with Star Life but also Star Khanya when Onesipho launches on 30th March at 6PM CAT.

Synopsis for Onesipho

The story follows Nayan, a simple small-town girl who is born with the gift of premonition—the ability to see visions of the future before they happen. While many in her village view her powers with suspicion, she often uses them to help others.

Through a series of unexpected events, Nayan marries Devansh, a wealthy man whose life is constantly in danger.

Nayan discovers that her visions are meant to protect Devansh. She becomes his "shield" against various threats, most notably from his own family.

The primary villain is Devansh's stepmother, Rita. Driven by greed, Rita repeatedly plots to kill Devansh so she can inherit his vast property. She is frequently assisted by her brother, Pompy.

Known in India as Nayan - Jo Vekhe Unvekha, Onesipho launches on Zee One from 30th March at 6PM CAT.

This Is Love, Former Glow TV Series Will Be Dubbed In IsiZulu And Broadcast On Star Khanya As Uthando Lento

Star Khanya, a Zulu dubbed Bollywood channel operated by JioStar had picked up rights to the Bollywood drama Uthando Lento. Known as Yeh Hai Mohabbatein (This Is Love) in India, the series airs on weeknights at 20:30 from 2nd April.

To South African audiences, Uthando Lento had already been broadcast on the defunct Glow TV brand as This Is Love. Now Star Khanya will be giving DStv consumers the opportunity to complete the show 7 years after it ended.

To recap, Glow TV was removed from DStv as part of extensive review carried out by MultiChoice. This was before any of the shows on Glow TV could wrap productions.

Consumers had to rely on alternatives just to watch Uthando Lento for which there was Openview as it once carried Glow TV. Then there was DStv Indian which featured shows from Glow TV suppliers such as StarPlus, Colors TV and Sony Max.

Now the catch here is that This Is Love is coming back to South African audiences but as Uthando Lento. It's not being picked up by Star Life which aired it's spinoff and has wider reach but is being alienated from most parts of Africa.

It's not airing in English and Hindi which is what would have been the case if it aired on Star Life but Zulu as that is Star Khanya's target market.

Synopsis for Uthando Lento 

The story begins with Ishita Iyer, a kind-hearted Tamil dentist who is unable to have children. She forms a deep bond with her neighbour's daughter, Ruhi Bhalla, who is often neglected by her hot-headed Punjabi father, Raman Bhalla. 

Raman is embroiled in a bitter custody battle with his ex-wife, Shagun, who left him for his business rival, Ashok Khanna.

To ensure Ruhi stays with a loving mother figure, Raman and Ishita enter into a "marriage of convenience" despite their constant bickering and cultural differences. As they live together, Ishita helps Raman heal from his past. 

Uthando Lento will air daily at 20:30 from 2nd April.

Channel Premiere: Play Room Unveils Fast & Furious: Spy Racers From DreamWorks Animation

Play Room, a South African based children's channel operated by Ngwato Nkosi Group that offers content in English and Zulu will rollout its first new series, Fast & Furious: Spy Racers. It will broadcast on the channel daily at 17:30 from 1st April.

Synopsis for Fast & Furious: Spy Racers 

Teenager Tony Toretto follows in the footsteps of his cousin Dom when he and his friends are recruited by a government agency to infiltrate an elite racing league serving as a front for a nefarious crime organization called SH1FT3R bent on world domination.

The series is executive produced by Vin Diesel, Neal H. Moritz, Chris Morgan, Tim Hedrick (Voltron Legendary Defender) and Bret Haaland (All Hail King Julien). Diesel, Moritz and Morgan also served as producers on the live-action Fast & Furious film franchise.

The cast features Tyler Posey (Teen Wolf) as Dom’s younger cousin turned spy racer Tony Toretto; Camille Ramsey as Layla Gray, a notable underground racer who works for SH1FT3R and Luke Youngblood (Harry Potter) as Frostee Benson, a 13-year old tech genius.

Prior to its broadcast on Play Room, Fast & Furious: Spy Racers was also broadcast on eToonz (South Africa), Showmax (Africa) and Netflix (international).

Fast & Furious: Spy Racers has yet to be made available on DreamWorks Channel as most of its later shows are available on these outlets. With the only exception being Play Room as this is their first with others like Rio and Shrek being films.

Athletics South Africa Exits SuperSport After 4 Years With Further Matches Set To Be Broadcast On SABC

DStv consumers have to brace for more bad news as Athletics SA had announced that their agreement with SuperSport had come to an end after 4 years. As the new owners Canal+ are busy aggressively slashing costs at MultiChoice.

Canal+ stripped SuperSport of its acquisition power with decisions over what to broadcast made in Paris. Since then, DStv consumers had missed out on various events like World Darts Championship, Winter Olympics and now Athletics SA.

According to Cash N Sport, Athletics SA was in talks with the SABC and SuperSport but couldn't come to an agreement over which events would air on either broadcaster. They were aiming to restructure their broadcasting agreement with SuperSport.

After SuperSport and Athletics SA formed an alliance to have these matches broadcast exclusively on DStv. The plan was to make a non-exclusive agreement which would give them a cheque and increased exposure from the SABC. 

With Athletics SA losing a major broadcaster like SuperSport, there's growing fear about how they'll plan to accommodate it's staff and put on races. Advertising alone can't accommodate sports as opposed to general entertainment.

Even though these matches would be broadcast on SABC, the broadcaster has fallen on troubled times and relied on sponsors to cover such events. With them losing out on SuperSport, the quality of these matches will see further diminish.

 

Could MultiChoice Look To Replace BET As Canal+ Afrique Might Have A Suitor For Paramount Network France?

Last year, Paramount closed its doors in Africa and various parts of Europe affecting brands like BET, MTV Base and Paramount Network. These channels were distributed in Canal+ Afrique and MultiChoice territories that started the year with less channels.

Prior to their exist, MultiChoice had stated that at this stage they weren't looking to replace these channels. Looking at the number of channels to have exited their platforms it was believed that they weren't interested in replacing them.

They had widened the reach of Trace TV's remaining channels like Gospel and Ngoma (formerly Africa) to its DStv Access subscribers. To some this was probably their way of compensating for MTV Base but that was not the case here.

During the month, MultiChoice had launched Base Pulse in the same frequency as MTV Base. Oddly enough some of Paramount's staff are now seen on this newest addition by Pulse Entertainment.

Prior to its addition, they were whispers of an MTV Base revival and all of this was likely pointing toward Base Pulse. As both brands have "Base" in the name aside from channel number, staff and heavy focus on Amapiano vibes.

Canal+ Afrique had also been test running a TV channel with Paramount Network's frequency and it's a safe bet that like Base Pulse maybe some of the content will resurface on this channel. Unless it could as well be another Canal+ branded channel.

Following the acquisition of MultiChoice, they have access to M-Net's local archives so they might as well dust out some old IPs and introduce them to these consumers. As mentioned, it's just speculation as tests are still underway.

As for MultiChoice, I haven't seen any signs that they're looking to replace BET however a duplicate feed for Moja 9.9. is currently being tested. Sometimes when a duplicate feed is placed it's usually just a placeholder for another TV channel.

In rare cases, they're just making upgrades which I doubt as there's an SD and HD feed, and I also doubt they're launching a localised feed. These are usually reserved for flagship brands like Moja Love as rerun channels aren't prioritised for such in this instance.

MultiChoice has localised feeds for M-Net, M-Net Movies 1, Disney Channel and TLC but not for your M-Net Movies 2-4, Disney Junior and Real Time.

Could Paramount Look To Merge Cartoonito With Nick Jr.?

Paramount is looking to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery after Netflix walked out of the bidding war. As preschool brands like Cartoonito and Nick Jr. likely to be owned by the same company, with this merger set to close by the end of 2026.

According to Paramount, they intend to keep most of the company intact but with the amount of debt they'd be digesting it's hard to believe they'll retain both Cartoonito and Nick Jr. if this deal closes.

Cartoonito is home to shows like Bugs Bunny Builders, Batwheels and Grizzy And The Lemmings. While Nick Jr. offers Paw Patrol, Dora The Explorer and The Tiny Chef Show.

Even if Paramount plans to keep Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. while inheriting Cartoon Network and Cartoonito. There's definitely going to be some restructuring content wise, likely for its international variants of Cartoonito.

Cartoonito had been struggling to find it's footing in the US despite having hits shows like Batwheels. All the while Warner Bros. Discovery continued expanding its preschool slate the development of Hey BMO and Foster's Funtime.

Of course the problem part here is that none of these shows have a platform and with this buyout by Paramount. This offering will most definitely get picked up by Nick Jr.

Nick Jr. has global appeal and it's history dates to the 80s as opposed to Cartoonito which dates to the mid 2000s in the UK/Europe so it's safe to bet they will handle this department.

Cartoonito will likely lean more toward shows like Mr. Bean and Grizzy And The Lemmings perhaps become a complementary/extension to Nick Jr. Think of how Candle Media structured it's Moonbug and Blippi And Friends channels internationally.

Nick Jr. could offer a programming block on Cartoonito perhaps for older shows like Nella The Princess Knight, Bubble Guppies and Rusty Rivets.