Could Canal+'s MultiChoice Look To Expand Novelas TV's Operations To DStv?

As reported, MultiChoice will be axing TLNovelas after 5 years from their platforms by the end of January. They haven't given a reason to the sudden reason for the exclusion of the channel but several theories enter the mount.

Firstly, Canal+ has been slashing costs at MultiChoice and TLNovelas happens to be the first victim in this pursuit. Other cuts ranged from sporting events seen on SuperSport such as Philly Games and World Darts Championship.

Another theory to various DStv consumers is that the French broadcaster has plans to possibly possibly ramp up another TV channel, Novelas TV.

Novelas TV is the go to destination for French dubbed Latin American and Turkish telenovelas for consumers in France and Africa. A Polish version known as Novelas+ is being broadcast on Platforma Canal+ in Poland.

In technicality, it would be rivalling with both Telemundo and eExtra's existing offering on DStv.

MultiChoice had mentioned that they plan to enhance consumer's offering with more content and channels. To some, this could as well imply possibly reverting further content from TLNovelas onto Novelas TV or whatever the French prefers to call it.

It's less likely to be referred to as Novelas TV seeing as there's already one in Africa but rather Novelas+ as seen in Poland seeing as there's no overlap.

Novelas TV being a localised brand with both French and Polish audio could signal that a speculated feed will be in African languages.

KykNET has been distributing Afrikaans dubbed Turkish telenovelas like My Naam Is Farah and Kind Van Die Noodlot. Oddly enough, it had even been picked up by Maisha Magic which is based in East Africa so don't be surprised if that got slotted in.

Canal+ currently has a 37% stake in the Asian based streamer VIU and is looking to acquire majority stake. They've followed a similar route as Zee TV and KykNET with localised dubbing to international dramas again could be slotted in.

Teresa, Love Spell and the funnel of content viewed on TLNovelas again might as well garner some new life on Novelas TV.

Channel Closure: TLNovelas Will Stop Airing On DStv And GOtv From 31 January 2026 Due To Canal+'s Cost Cutting At MultiChoice

MultiChoice in a statement:

We regularly review our channel line-up to ensure we offer customers the best in local and international content. This is done to ensure we deliver unbeatable content and that our DStv services cater for the needs and viewing requirements of our customers. As part of this ongoing process, some channels may be terminated. 

After Canal+ managed to forge an agreement with Warner Bros. Discovery for MultiChoice operations in Africa. A notice was sent out informing subscribers of TLNovelas's departure from DStv on 31 January 2026.

Not long ago, Paramount had claimed the lives of CBS Reality, CBS Justice, MTV Base and BET. Now consumers have to sayanara to TLNovelas which serves as the first victim in Canal+'s cost cutting.

TLNovelas was added to MultiChoice's DStv and GOtv platforms across Africa in September 2020 as a pop-up channel. StarTimes offered it as a permanent addition in a separate agreement when it launched in May 2020 - no longer available.

For DStv consumers, this was accompanied by two other pop-up channels, Timeless Dizi Channel and ZooMoo. Out of the three, MultiChoice had opted to keep only TLNovelas while removing ZooMoo and Timeless Dizi Channel. 

After five years, TLNovelas will take a bow on 31 January 2026 with Love To Death and It Had To Be You airing in double bill form. MultiChoice has no plans to replace the channel leaving Telemundo as the only other alternative on the platform.

Telemundo will be launching a new female led drama The Woman In Charge which serves as a reboot to Woman Of Steel. This will be followed by the romantic drama Love Of My Life in the month of February.

Canal+ Inks New Agreement With Warner Bros. Discovery For It's Operations In Europe And That Of MultiChoice In Africa

MultiChoice owner Canal+ and Warner Bros. Discovery have announced that they have signed a multi-year, multi-territory agreement.

“This expanded agreement covers both the distribution of HBO Max and the renewal of several Warner Bros. Discovery thematic channels across numerous regions in Africa and Europe,” Canal+ stated.

This resolves the uncertainty over 12 DStv channels that would have gone dark at midnight, had Canal+ not secured a renewed channel carriage agreement with Warner Bros. Discovery.

Home Box Office (HBO), a longtime partner of MultiChoice and the inspiration for the original M-Net channel, is part of Warner Bros. Streaming.

HBO is home to hit franchises and shows such as Game of Thrones, Band of Brothers, The Sopranos, The Wire, Sex and the City, Veep, Six Feet Under, True Blood, and The Last of Us.

Warner Bros. Discovery also owns DC Comics, the film rights to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and New Line Cinema, which is known for its Lord of the Rings movies.

The company is currently in acquisition talks with Netflix and Paramount Skydance, with Bloomberg reporting Tuesday night that Warner Bros. is expected to reject Paramount’s offer next week.

Amid the trillion-rand corporate action, Canal+ and Warner Bros. Discovery were negotiating an agreement to replace one it had with MultiChoice, which expires at midnight.

Canal+ and Warner Bros. Discovery said their new agreement marked a major milestone in the development of their collaboration on an international scale.

“It builds on the landmark agreements concluded in France in 2024 — including the renewal of the exclusive pay-TV window for Warner Bros. Pictures films just six months after their theatrical release in France.”

The deal also includes the integration of HBO Max within select Canal+ group offers, with the renewal of the distribution agreement for 22 thematic channels and 4 free-to-air channels.

Canal+ confirmed that the agreement includes the renewal of the distribution of 12 Warner Bros. Discovery thematic channels across MultiChoice Group territories, with some offered exclusively.

The channels concerned are:

• CNN International and Cartoon Network — exclusively in South Africa, and non-exclusively in other territories.

• Cartoon Network Porto — 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 — non-exclusive.

“This agreement enables Canal+ group to strengthen its entertainment, kids, news, and documentary channel offering in African markets,” it said.

Canal+ said its partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery is also being extended and strengthened in Europe through several strategic renewals and expansions. These include:

• Renewal of Cartoon Network, Cartoonito, and CNN International in Romania, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia.

• Renewal of Warner TV in the Czech Republic.

• Renewal of HBO Max, HBO, and Cinemax in Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania.

• Expansion of HBO Max distribution via Canal+ to two new key territories: Belgium, and Austria.

“This agreement enhances access for Canal+ group subscribers to Warner Bros. Discovery’s iconic content via HBO Max and select channels,” it said.

“The access includes premium series and films that contribute to the studio’s international reach.”

Dark Days Could Be Lurking For TNT Africa

As advised, MultiChoice will be shuttering Warner Bros. Discovery's 12 channels on the DStv platform due to pricing problems. Channels like Food Network qnd Discovery Family will cease to exist in Africa as MultiChoice was the only provider for them.

Another channel that could be joining Food Network and the other channels in a not so distant future would be TNT.

TNT is ranked as the #1 international movie channel in Africa offering action based films and various content from wrestling promotion AEW. It was only last year when StarTimes opted to discontinue carriage of the channel for similar reasons.

Unlike Cartoon Network and a fleet of channels that are packaged on StarTimes, Zuku TV and Azam TV. The only other means of viewing TNT would be through Canal+ Afrique's operations in Rwanda.

The problem part, Canal+ Afrique and MultiChoice are owned by the same company meaning TNT Africa's days in the market could be numbered. It's less likely to be revived on another platform as StarTimes and the latter already have alternatives in place.

Unlike Cartoon Network and TLC where the content can't simply be replaced with an alternative. Outside of AEW, TNT uses the same catalogue as ST Movies, Studio Universal and M-Net Movies.

How Azam TV And Canal+ Afrique In Rwanda Are Impacted By DStv's Closure Of Cartoon Network And Cartoonito?

With a few days left in 2025, Warner Bros. Discovery and MultiChoice are set to close 12 channels on DStv and GOtv platforms across Africa by 31 December. Talks between the two have stalled due to pricing and might continue into 2026.

This means DStv consumers will be losing out on shows like Teen Titans GO!, Bugs Bunny Builders and Mr. Bean. Whatever alternatives MultiChoice's new owners have in store is less likely to include these shows from Cartoon Network and Cartoonito.

Cartoon Network would be exiting DStv platform after 30 years serving as one of 15 channels alongside CNN and Travel Channel when DStv launched in the market.

As advised, the exit of Cartoon Network means the only other way consumers can view the brand would be through Azam TV which is located in East Africa and Canal+ Afrique in Rwanda.

The problem part is that majority of Cartoon Network and Cartoonito's consumers were on DStv meaning most of their revenue resided with MultiChoice. If that space is closed, Warner Bros. Discovery will most definitely scale back on its operations.

Cartoon Network had been dubbing Teen Titans GO! and The Wonderfully Weird Of Gumball to Zulu that could as well get the boot. They had produced local series like Woola for Cartoonito which too is at risk of cancellation.

MultiChoice's cancellation of these brands could impact Canal+ Rwanda's existing agreement seeing as they're both divisions of Canal+. Warner Bros. Discovery might not deem Africa as viable for these networks with only Azam TV.

If Warner Bros. Discovery were to charge more to Azam TV, they may follow the same strategy as MultiChoice and severe its ties.

This is why the new management at MultiChoice doesn't feel threatened by their possible exit as the only other means for Regular Show would be streaming. Compared to South Africa, there's a lot of constraints to that in other parts of Africa.

Four Channels Facing Bigger Risk Of Extinction Within MultiChoice And Warner Bros. Discovery Dispute

With only a few days left in 2025, MultiChoice and Warner Bros. Discovery have yet to come into an agreement over the fate of its 12 channels. These include Discovery Channel, TLC, TNT, Cartoon Network, Cartoonito, CNN, Travel Channel and HGTV.

If these channels were to go dark for instance, consumers in South Africa would have no other means of viewing them. As opposed to other markets with StarTimes, Zuku TV and Azam TV supplying some of these channels in a separate agreement.

For Discovery Channel, Investigation Discovery, CNN, TNT, TLC, Real Time and Cartoon Network and Cartoonito. With them being on other platforms within Africa means normal viewing is expected to resume once they go dark on DStv.

As opposed to Food Network, HGTV, Travel Channel and Discovery Family that will have to see Warner Bros. Discovery reshuffle their portfolio and reschedule/delay shows. This is because MultiChoice was the only provider willing to bundle them despite the costs.

Most other providers rely on Discovery Channel and Real Time for the batch of shows on these channels including Ugliest House In America, Harry Potter: Wizards Of Baking and The Kitchen.

MultiChoice now under French management has been scaling back on costs with the cancellation of Philly's Games and World Darts Championship on SuperSport. It's likely that the ongoing talks with Warner Bros. Discovery will see their linear operations reduced.

Canal+ following its acquisition of MultiChoice had lost another million subscribers between March 2024 to March 2025 which is where part of their income reside. With fewer subscribers, MultiChoice won't be able to maintain the current DStv structure.

If these two parties do come to an agreement expect a streamlined portfolio which could as well result in the closure of Travel Channel and Discovery Family. In regards to the fate of Dead Files that may not be a priority if the viewership doesn't justify the means.

DStv Blackout Seems More Imminent As Renewal Talks Between MultiChoice And Warner Bros. Discovery Are Underway

With only a few days left into 2025, MultiChoice and Warner Bros. Discovery have yet to reach an agreement regarding Cartoon Network and TLC. Consumers would have spotted this message informing them these channels might go dark soon.

Canal+ following its acquisition of MultiChoice had been scaling back on costs and at this point consumers shouldn't be remotely shocked if we were to see a total blackout of these 12 channels.

These channels are bundled so even if MultiChoice wanted to retain a few channels that's not possible at this stage. So letting these brands die out would give them an open window to negotiate a new agreement where a few channels get reinstated.

MultiChoice had already planned their next step as talks ensue this includes fliekNET and various pop-up channels. DStv Upsize special which was scheduled to end on 31 December 2025 had been pushed up a month later to 31 January 2026.

Cartoon Network and Cartoonito have a 49% market share for kids viewing on DStv making them stronger candidates to get revived. Followed by TNT and TLC as they rank #1 in their current fields being international movies and lifestyle.

News isn't as big of a trailblazer in pay-tv circuit but CNN has massive following I can only assume it would be the fifth channel.

Paramount is closing CBS Justice by the end of December in its joint venture with AMC Networks International alongside CBS Reality. Maybe Discovery Channel and Investigation Discovery could come in sixth and seventh place.

But what is clear here is that MultiChoice is one of Warner's largest investors in Africa. With a Netflix sale and potential spinoff, the company housing these brands faces a lot of uncertainty so they would need a MultiChoice deal to avoid low revenue.

MultiChoice has been losing subscribers in recent years and they'll need to continue offering Beat Bobby Flay and Tiny Toons Looniversity to avoid a massive downfall to their pay-tv business. 

Could Canal+'s MultiChoice Give HGTV The Boot?

With only a few days left in 2025, MultiChoice and Warner Bros. Discovery have yet to come into an agreement over the fate of its 12 channels. These include Discovery Channel, TLC, TNT, Cartoon Network, Cartoonito, CNN, Travel Channel and HGTV.

If these brands do get removed from DStv, some brands like Discovery Family for instance is less likely to resurface on another platform. As I mentioned, further content is on Discovery Channel.

There's also a possibility that this may extend to include HGTV.

HGTV was launched in South Africa by July 2019 and since it's inception it isn't viewable in most parts of Africa in which MultiChoice operate. Part of the reason is similar to what happened to BBC Earth's operations in these markets - it was just not viable at the time.

Now that Canal+'s is looking to slash costs at the company it's very likely that if a new agreement is reached some brands may not form part of this offering. In this case, it could as well be HGTV not because of consumer preferences but cost cutting.

MultiChoice had lost close to 3 million subscribers in the past two years and as a result they're operating income had plummeted.

Under previous management, they would have fought for HGTV but under Canal+ pricing is another factor. And if HGTV were to shutter it's less likely that StarTimes would snatch those rights and they could as well opt for alternatives e.g. Real Time.

Discovery Family's Uncertain Future On DStv

As some already know, MultiChoice might be losing an additional 12 channels by 31 December 2025 as Paramount looks to axe BET, MTV Base, CBS Reality and CBS Justice. Warner Bros. Discovery for about a month now has been trying to find a resolution.

If these two aren't able to reach an agreement, consumers will be missing out on Death By Fame, Still A Mystery and Looney Tunes Cartoons. Unlike Cartoon Network and TNT that are viewed on Canal+ Afrique and Azam TV in other African hits the cuts will have a major impact on Discovery Family.

Since the channels exit on StarSat in 2021, MultiChoice was the only provider within Africa to offer the brand. If these channels were to shut down its very unlikely that another broadcaster would revive Discovery Family.

As MultiChoice outlines that talks between Warner Bros. Discovery are still ongoing as they haven't come into an agreement over the pricing. But as seen with past disputes such as that of A+E Global Media with History and Lifetime it's likely that more channels could exit soon.

Discovery Family could form part of those cuts cause ever since Discovery Science was axed in most parts of Europe. The channel had been leaning it's offering toward Discovery Channel and reruns of older shows making it feel zombified.

If MultiChoice was paying Warner Bros. Discovery half a billion for these 12 channels I'd imagine under the Canal+ regime they likely want to pay less. As MultiChoice has lost close to 3 million DStv subscribers and they've been slashing costs.

Canal+ could opt for a partial renewal where the only thing left of the company would be TLC, Discovery Channel, Cartoon Network, Cartoonito and CNN. Everything else from Discovery Family, Food Network, Travel Channel and HGTV go dark by 2026.

With the likes of Netflix, MultiChoice should have worked on becoming more flexible rather than bundling all these brands (e.g. Travel Channel) that are likely getting very little notice from subscribers.

Under new management, MultiChoice is probably looking at the performance of these brands to see whether they're viable. For all anyone knows, Food Network, HGTV, Discovery Family and Travel Channel could as well be reduced to just Real Time.

SuperSport Dumps Philly's Games And PDC World Championship Due To Canal+'s Cost Cutting At MultiChoice

As some consumers know, Canal+ is now in control over acquiring full ownership of MultiChoice last week. Since then, they've been reviewing sponsorships and existing broadcasts deals which had led to the cancellation of Philly's Games.

Consumers wishing to see the tournament can live stream on Facebook as the event will no longer broadcast on DStv. You can attend the games in various locations across Tembisa, with the final taking place at the Mehlareng Stadium. 

The 2025/2026 Philly's Games in Tembisa, South Africa are currently underway, running from December 20, 2025, to January 3, 2026. However, the tournament has lost its DStv sponsorship and is not being broadcast on SuperSport this year. 

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Also forming part of the dramatic cuts is PDC World Darts Championship.

SuperSport is not broadcasting the 2025/2026 PDC World Darts Championship, which began on December 15, 2025. This is reportedly because SuperSport no longer holds the broadcast rights for this year’s championship. 

While SuperSport aired the previous year's tournament, viewers in South Africa have reported that the 2025/2026 edition is missing from the DStv schedule.

Because the tournament is blacked out on DStv, South African fans will have to stream the matches on DAZN or the official PDC streaming service. Lives updates are also available on PDC official website and Flashscore ZA.

Canal+ Ready To Take On Global Streamers, Talks MultiChoice

Canal+ has given itself the (seemingly wide) target of 50 to 100 million subscribers by 2030, as the MultiChoice acquisition which closed earlier this year alters its dimension and strategic priorities.

Talking to Le Figaro before its The Originals+ content showcase on December 18th in Paris, Canal+ group CEO Maxime Saada said he considers the group to now be an international player, boasting some 40 million subscribers across nearly 70 countries, and having 17,000 employees across Europe, Africa and Asia.

Saada said that synergies between Canal+ and MultiChoice will be announced in January 2026, ahead of a strategic update planned for March, while the combined entity’s revenue is expected to reach €10 billion roughly.

Canal+ is counting on Africa as its main growth driver, while continuing its expansion into mature European countries. In France, Canal+ anticipates a sixth consecutive year of growth in 2025 and a return to profitability.

The group is also ready to strengthen its international content and franchise strategy with StudioCanal and is pleased to have secured the rights to European football competitions until 2031. Saada said that business matters are “under control” and did not regret the withdrawal from Ligue 1.

Featuring a fireside chat between Saada and Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos, The Originals+ event showcased the strength of Canal+’s content slate – including a French version of Saturday Night Live and Projects With Olivia Colman, Ava DuVerna, Vincent Lindon and David Oyelowo – and its capacity to “rival global streaming giants,” in being a curator, producer, and distributor of premium content at scale.

From Kartoon Channel To DocuBox: Could MultiChoice Be Eyeing These As Potential Suitors For Cartoon Network And Discovery Channel?

As some consumers have heard, MultiChoice might be removing TNT alongside Warner Bros. Discovery's other TV channels on DStv. It does appear like a probable scenario as the DStv Upsize promotion had been extended until 31 January 2026.

It's likely we'll start the new year with 16 less channels and DStv Upsize promotion is expected to serve as a distraction. But consumers on the high end packages to family won't handle the potential losses without a fight.

Warner Bros. Discovery had stated that 49% of kids viewing on DStv comes from Cartoon Network and Cartoonito. They also operate the #1 movie channel and #1 lifestyle channel making MultiChoice's situation complicated.

Now under French hands, MultiChoice had stated that they are more than willing to fill the entertainment gap. But the media is kind of skeptical about how they'd replace Cartoon Network and TLC.

As mentioned, MultiChoice is under the management of French giant Canal+. They operate their own production company StudioCanal, Dailymotion their video sharing app and have pay-tv services in Europe and Asia.

You can only assume some of these alternatives MultiChoice seemed to be hinting at must come from corporate's operations within these markets.

For Cartoon Network, only two options would come to mind the first would an anglophone version of Canal+ Kids. In most markets in which Canal+ operate in they do have a dedicated children's network and in some way this would mark M-Net's re-entry in the kids space.

Second option would be the Kartoon Channel which houses classic shows like Dennis The Menace, Inspector Gadget and Dino Squad alongside other animated shows like Superhero Kindergarten and Rainbow Rangers.

For Cartoonito, MultiChoice might as well reintroduce ZooMoo to the lineup after launching it as a pop-up channel in 2020. It was described as a wildlife channel offering a mixture of educational and entertaining programming.

Another comes from Disney and has been viewed as an afterthought to the brand following its acquisition of 20th Century Fox, Baby TV.

For TNT, there's FilmBox Africa from Netherlands's SPI International in which Canal+ had acquired. It is described as a complementary movie channel with genres ranging from adventure, action, drama and romance, it also offers international series.

 

For Discovery's cable networks, several brands do enter the equation for this one.

There's the Amsterdam based entertainment group Insight TV that specializes in real-life, story-driven content, focusing on genres such as action sports, lifestyle, adventure, and science & technology. It comprises of several linear channels like Infast, Inwonder, Inwild and Intravel.

Viasat World, a Swedish based entertainment company creating, curating, and distributing content around the world. It brings history to life and tell nature’s greatest stories with brands like Viasat History, Viasat Explore and Viasat Nature.

Expanding from SPI International, DocuBox offers an unforgettable collection of fascinating, award-winning documentary features and TV programming exploring the mysteries and beauty of the planet.

Love Nature is a Canadian specialty television channel owned by Blue Ant Media. The channel broadcasts documentaries and television series related to wildlife and nature.

Travelxp is the world's leading travel channel, OTT platform which is based in India and the leading influencer for travel enthusiasts. It offers series focused on adventure, culture, heritage, cuisine, and global destinations.

For CNN, it would be the French based news channel France 24 that MultiChoice had been distributing in some African markets. It's headquarters may be in France but it also has news coverage from Africa particularly french speaking Africa.

MultiChoice Vs. Warner Bros.. Discovery: Who Is The Real Winner Here?

MultiChoice and Warner Bros. Discovery are at opposite ends of the rope when it comes to the fate of BBQ Brawls on Food Network and Mr. Bean on Cartoonito. One company following a buyout is trying to remove all its splinters while the other reaches uncertain times.

Consumers in summary feel a mixture of emotions some express fear regarding TLC's exit on the platform. If you're South African consumer, there really is no other means to catch Dr. Pimple Popper, Death By Fame or Bad Skin Clinic.

Others anger over the potential loss of Investigation Discovery and Discovery Family, Paramount will be closing CBS Reality and 3 other channels soon. These were suppose to be the few other means to watch detective shows and other factual content.

MultiChoice had already put up a notice to DStv consumers about the affected channels potentially closing on 31 December 2025. It should be noted that negotiations remain ongoing and as long as a comprise hadn't been reached its farewell to Cake Boss reruns.

All anyone can hope now is that an agreement can be reached as there's 19 more days into the year. I believe a comprise can be reached perhaps for select channels I mean MultiChoice can do without Discovery Family and Travel Channel.

But it should be noted that a comprise is in the interest for both companies.

For MultiChoice, the failure to renew this transaction would result in fast paced decline in DStv subscriptions. They can do without the extra weight (e.g. Travel Channel) but if you want to show consumers you care replace the affected channels.

For Warner Bros. Discovery, this is your biggest client in the African space and the loss of My Lottery Dream Home would affect your earnings. This comes at a time of an uncertainty as a portion of your brand might be folded under the letter "N".

MultiChoice had been seen as the biggest loser as consumers switch to online viewing but the part that deals with Food Network and CNN has been viewed by analysts as a failing business amidst cord cuts.

Termination Notice Has Been Issued Out To Cartoon Network And Discovery Channel Leaving Only TNT And Discovery Family On DStv

Yesterday, it was reported that MultiChoice and Warner Bros. Discovery "might" have settled their carriage dispute regarding the 12 channels and HBO's content on M-Net. This is because a few channels had a termination card and some didn't.

Now, MultiChoice had sent out channel termination notices for Cartoon Network and Discovery Channel leaving only Discovery Family and TNT. 

Negotiations between both parties are still ongoing so the fact that the batch to have gotten termination notices earlier doesn't mean an agreement can't be reached where they join the initial four. None of the messages list each individual channel so there's hope.

Of course several theories behind Cartoon Network's inclusion does enter the fray.

Firstly, MultiChoice's team has been incompetent for a while it's not news to any DStv customer so it's likely they took longer to add them.

But of course, when Paramount announced that BET and MTV Base alongside CBS Reality and CBS Justice in its joint venture with AMC Networks International were out the door. These notices were sent out simultaneously despite them not going dark at the same time.

It does lead some to wonder could a new agreement have been reached for the initial four and MultiChoice in its attempt to prevent a media debacle chose to now list Cartoon Network up for closure. I mean it wouldn't be the first time MultiChoice had tried scrubbing such info.

The news of those 8 channels possibly leaving DStv would anger a lot of DStv customers. But similar to the Cartoonito leak in 2023, MultiChoice and Warner Bros. Discovery probably want to address the elephant in the room - TLC and Food Network.

MultiChoice had stated they were open to replacing these channels and if an agreement had been reached. Could it be that some of this content will just resurface on a replacement as seen with Nickelodeon in New Zealand.

Its so possible that MultiChoice is more channels aside from TNT and Discovery Channel. Perhaps renewals for Food Network, Investigation Discovery and HGTV are taking a lot longer than anticipated again those are all theories.

DStv Customers Are Shocked And Utterly Disappointed By MultiChoice's Decision To Possibly Cancel TLC, HGTV And Food Network

MultiChoice and Warner Bros. Discovery might have settled their carriage dispute as 8 out of the 12 channels might be exiting DStv. These include TLC, Real Time, Investigation Discovery, Travel Channel, Food Network, HGTV, Cartoonito And CNN.

A termination notice had already been spotted for these channels and it as goes follows:

Dear viewer, please note this channel may no longer form part of our content line-up from 31 December 2025. Thank you.

The channels in question come as a shock to viewers like myself specifically for TLC as it's basically what Bravo is to NBCUniversal or MTV is to Paramount. But this was to be expected I mean Canal+ Afrique only distribute 5 channels from the brand including CNN.

I'd like to believe that more channels could end up joining Discovery Channel, Discovery Family, Cartoon Network and CNN. 

If you had to sum it up, several factors contribute to the possible demise of these brands firstly MultiChoice had implied renewing their agreement with the company had been deemed non-viable. This is where brands like Food Network and CNN factored in.

Another may have something to with their viewership particularly for the likes of Travel Channel. Canal+ is shedding costs at MultiChoice and one way would probably be phasing out niche and redundant brands.

As for the content, MultiChoice had stated they're more than willing to replace these channels which does lead us to wonder. Could these replacements perhaps carry shows like 90 Day Fiance and Evil Lives Here I mean it wouldn't seem far fetched.

Warner Bros. Discovery had run into similar issues in New Zealand and since then channels have come in place to carry this content. MultiChoice had done similar actions in the past with the likes of Animal Planet (under Real Time) and ITV Choice (under M-Net).

Developing Story: Channels Likely Remaining On DStv Include Cartoon Network, TNT, Discovery Channel And Discovery Family

As consumers have already heard, talks between MultiChoice and Warner Bros. Discovery regarding the carriage agreement for Cartoon Network and 11 other channels are on the line. MultiChoice sent a notice out earlier in the month about the pending disaster.

Since then, a petition had started to garner traction online from a concerned DStv subscriber and has since crossed the 300 milestone.

In recent developments, it appears that Cartoon Network, TNT, Discovery Channel and Discovery Family won't be leaving DStv. As a termination notice has only been sent out for TLC, HGTV and Warner's 6 other channels.

The message goes as follows Dear viewer, please note this channel may no longer form part of our content line-up from 31 December 2025. Thank you.

The fact MultiChoice states "may no longer" doesn't mean their fates are set in stone just yet but that some progress has already been established. This comprises of brands such as Cartoon Network, TNT, Discovery Channel and Discovery Family.

It's very likely that more channels could join the lineup but as of right now it appears MultiChoice will be removing 8 additional channels alongside the 4 channels by Paramount. They had recently extended the DStv Upsize promotion giving them ample time to resolve the matter.

Developing Story: Channels Likely Going Dark On DStv Include TLC, Real Time, Investigation Discovery, Travel Channel, Food Network, HGTV, Cartoonito And CNN

As consumers have already heard, talks between MultiChoice and Warner Bros. Discovery regarding the carriage agreement for Cartoon Network and 11 other channels are on the line. MultiChoice sent a notice out earlier in the month about the pending disaster.

Since then, a petition had started to garner traction online from a concerned DStv subscriber and has since crossed the 300 milestone.

At the time, it was stated by MultiChoice that should a new agreement not be reached consumers would lose 12 additional channels by 31 December 2025. But that may not be the case for Cartoon Network, Discovery Channel, Discovery Family and TNT.

Termination cards are being spotted on TLC, Real Time, HGTV, Travel Channel, Food Network, Cartoonito, CNN International and Investigation Discovery with the following message:

Dear viewer, please note this channel may no longer form part of our content line-up from 31 December 2025. Thank you.

MultiChoice had implied that Warner Bros. Discovery is asking for too much money to extend the carriage agreement for these 8 channels. Honestly, I was right to suspect that Food Network or even HGTV are likely goners in this carriage dispute.

The fact MultiChoice states "may no longer" doesn't mean their fates are set in stone just yet but that some progress has already been established. It's possible that some of these 8 could remain onboard I mean Canal+ Afrique does offer CNN International.

But as of right now, MultiChoice had extended its DStv Upsize promotion which can only imply several scenarios. Firstly talks between the two extend to 2026 which is unlikely and, second is that 8 channels are likely done for and this promotion is just a distraction.

Could Canal+'s MultiChoice Be Hinting At A Grim Future For Warner Bros. Discovery?

Warner Bros. Discovery serves as MultiChoice's largest entertainment provider behind BBC Studios, Disney, NBCUniversal and Paramount. It provides shows like House Of Dragons to M-Net alongside cable networks like Discovery Channel, CNN and Cartoon Network.

The fate of this offering now hangs in the balance as MultiChoice and Warner Bros. Discovery struggle to finalise to a new agreement. Aside from Paramount's 4 channels, consumers stand a chance of losing an additional 12 channels bringing to 16 channels.

A petition had been going around in order to try and save these channels. Because let's face it within this 12 everyone has a favourite and some have even threatened to cancel their subscription.

MultiChoice was asked what they're next grand plan would be if the 12 channels were axed and of course it would be replacing them. But none of the content viewed on Cartoon Network or TLC would make it which is what consumers are paying for.

So now they're extending the DStv Upsize promotion to 31 January 2026. Not as a thank you for being a loyal subscriber but rather a way for them to say we're screwed without these channels.

Consumers missing out on Cartoon Network would have Disney Channel and Nickelodeon to keep occupied. Those missing out on AEW on TNT would have access to live episodes of Raw and SmackDown alongside PPV events.

This is all until 31 January 2026 which would give them ample time to find replacements. If I'm being honest here, there's a 50/50 chance that all 12 channels will be exiting or maybe 4-6 get retained.

According to insiders, talks between them aren't looking good so consumers should expect something major to get axed. This is why there's talks of replacements and for Paramount's brands which are definitely exiting aren't getting replaced.

DStv Upsize Promotion Receives Another Extension Amidst A Carriage Dispute

MultiChoice has announced that DStv customers with decoder-based subscriptions will be upgraded to higher-tier packages for free until the end of January 2026. This is because consumers are likely to lose 12 additional channels by the end of this month.

DStv has been running a promotion that gives customers on its mid-tier and entry-level packages access to higher-end bouquets until the end of December. This has now been extended by a month as Warner Bros. Discovery and MultiChoice try to reach an agreement.

Until 31 January 2026, DStv Compact and Compact Plus customers will have access to all Premium channels, while Family and Access customers will be upgraded to Compact. 

DStv Premium subscribers receive two extra concurrent streams, for a total of four, and will get more DStv Rewards points than usual.

While the upgrade promotion is exclusive to decoder-based subscribers, MultiChoice said that DStv Stream customers will get separate offers on DStv Rewards.

To make it easier for customers to get a decoder and other products, DStv is relaunching its online store later this month, offering free delivery and a simpler ordering process.

MultiChoice launched its Upsize promotion on 10 November, immediately following its successful Open Weekend that gave all decoder-based subscribers free access to DStv Premium.

“With the summer holidays fast approaching, families can enjoy a wide range of local and international entertainment,” MultiChoice stated.

It stated that no action is required from customers to receive the upgrade, and normal billing will resume in February 2026.

DStv said the Upsize promotion forms part of its broader plan to improve customer value. MultiChoice CEO for Pay TV South Africa, Byron du Plessis, said the campaign was part of a bigger value reset.

“We’re focused on making DStv more accessible and rewarding, with affordability and customer experience at the heart of our strategy,” Du Plessis said.

The campaign follows several recent initiatives since the company’s takeover by Canal+, including decoder price cuts and a refreshed DStv Rewards programme.

While the DStv Rewards refresh had been in the works since before the takeover, it has been allowed to proceed with Canal+’s blessing.

Canal+ Acquires Remaining Stake In MultiChoice Following A Squeeze Out

Multichoice will officially delist from the JSE this week following its acquisition by French media giant Canal+. 

Canal+ has been attempting to acquire control of Multichoice for nearly two years and has now acquired all the remaining shares following a Squeeze-Out of other shareholders. 

The group will not delist the ordinary shares of Multichoice from the JSE and the A2X, effective Wednesday, 10 December 2025. 

This is subject to obtaining regulatory approvals from the JSE, the A2X, and the South Africa Reserve Bank. 

Canal+ said it remains committed to fulfilling its obligations under the conditions set by the South African competition authorities. 

It thus intends to proceed with a secondary inward listing on the JSE within 9 months following the effective date of the delisting.

This aligns with the timetable and procedures envisaged in the relevant regulatory approvals.

The move marks a major change for Multichoice, with the company’s history dating back to 1985, when M-Net was founded. 

With Supersport part of its catalogue, Multichoice was launched in 1995. DStv launched its first satellite service that same year. 

The company would continue to expand into other African markets and launch its own streaming service, Showmax, in 2015. 

In 2019, Multichoice was spun out of South Africa’s most valuable company, Naspers. 

Soon after, its shares began trading on the A2X Markets on a secondary basis on Monday, March 2, 2020

The recent acquisition by Canal+ means that South African investors can no longer own a direct stake in Multichoice, and will only be able to own an indirect stake when Canal+ lists.