More Bad News Might Be Awaiting DStv Consumers As MultiChoice And Warner Bros. Discovery Square Off

According to some new reports, DStv subscribers may have to brace for more bad news aside from Paramount closing MTV Base and 3 other channels. The fight is on in trying to retain Cartoon Network and TNT as well as The White Lotus on M-Net.

Warner Bros. Discovery and MultiChoice had this carriage dispute for sometime regarding the future of these networks and it's content on M-Net. As reported, Netflix had won the bid to acquire the portion that licenses to M-Net.

MultiChoice under its new owners Canal+ seemingly implied that rates to renew such agreement is higher. And as I've mentioned for a while now things about to get messy from insider's reports that things aren't looking good.

It could imply two scenarios

The first DStv consumers will lose all 12 channels meaning no more reruns of Regular Show on Cartoon Network and Holiday Baking Championship on Food Network. Superman, Green Lantern and Harry Potter on M-Net Movies those are gone as well.

From 2026, MultiChoice will lose DStv consumers at an alarmingly rate as seen in Kenya where it lost 85% of its audience. While they promise to replace the affected channels, none of the content from these brands would form part of the lineup anyways.

MultiChoice will find it hard trying to convince consumers across the DStv bouquet to retain their subscription. Even with replacements, there would be no Sister Wives or AEW Dynamite which is what the paying consumer subscribed for.

Various outlets are putting most of their bet on the first scenario and if you've seen what happened in the week was Netflix's possible acquisition of Warner Bros. Lots of websites placed their bid on Paramount winning as the deal would have included the cable networks.

But I'm putting my cards out for the second scenario where MultiChoice and Warner Bros. Discovery are able to finalise an agreement - eventually.

"Things Aren't Looking Good" could imply instead of 12 additional channels joining the 4 existing channels from Paramount to exit DStv. It could as well be between 4-7 channels and I've stated this before MultiChoice doesn't need all these channels.

Travel Channel had been in decline that even MultiChoice Africa no longer offer it to DStv consumers. HGTV similar to BBC Earth wasn't even licensed to consumers in some African markets making it a strong contender to get the axe.

Under previous management, MultiChoice was prioritising on content which led to the exit of a couple of popular brands like Animal Planet and BBC First. Maybe under French hands, they could look to keep channels with massive appeal and remove ones deemed expensive or redundant.

Popular brands within their stable include Discovery, TLC, Cartoon Network and TNT, with expensive or low rated brands like HGTV, Food Network and Discovery Family.

If theres one thing I believe would be a priority is the part that deals with M-Net and Showmax as a loss would lead to viewer erosion. The part in which M-Net contract with has major IPs under their belt and is a contributor to M-Net's success.

The linear part doesn't even appear in South Africa's 20 most watched channels making the content part a liability. 

The second scenario seems probable although they would lose subscribers it wouldn't be severe if this number went up to 16 channels. MultiChoice can do without some of these brands as it would give them time to calm the masses and seek alternatives.

How Netflix's Potential Acquisition Of Warner Bros. Discovery Affects M-Net, DStv And Showmax?

Not long ago, it was reported that Netflix won the bid to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery valuing the deal at $72 billion. This deal would DC Entertainment/Studios, Cartoon Network Studios, HBO, Warner Bros. Pictures/Television and New Line Cinema.

Below is a how this deal is bad news for MultiChoice

M-Net and Showmax

MultiChoice had been licensing Game Of Thrones and Penguins from HBO to M-Net and Showmax. In the event of an acquisition, Netflix had expressed interest to continue these partnerships with local broadcasters but it may not be easy.

If MultiChoice continues to license content from Warner Bros. they could as well look to increase the rates. This is something MultiChoice's new owners Canal+ may not find amusing as they've begun cost cutting due to DStv's shrinking consumer base.

Besides that, the previous owners at MultiChoice had been anti-Netflix for sometime so the general audience had sort of painted a certain image of the company. While free-to-air broadcasters such as SABC and eMedia Investments had been licensing from the streamer.

MultiChoice put up a wall between them and Netflix again this was the previous owners regime as Canal+ does view them as partners. They do have an agreement to bundle their services in francophone markets alongside a content deal through K+.

The reality is while Warner Bros. continues to license content to M-Net and Showmax, Netflix will likely make further productions exclusive to their services. If they do continue licensing, I doubt MultiChoice would want their scraps.

Netflix is already available in the market which further complicates things as M-Net and Showmax are meant to go hand in hand with their content. But then again, MultiChoice is part of StudioCanal's parent company which gives them leverage.

Netflix may offer Stranger Things, Squid Games and Wednesday but with Canal+'s MultiChoice there's Paris Has Fallen, Spinners and iShaka iLembe.

DStv

For this part, I feel there's a lot of exaggeration as Netflix is not acquiring Discovery, TLC or the linear Cartoon Network as that is being spun off into a separate company. Of course, Netflix's bid to be frank sort of dilutes the value of Cartoon Network.

Cartoon Network under Discovery Global will be leaning more toward third party programming such as Lego Ninjago, Dragonball Super and Totally Spies!. While what made Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon and Disney "The Big 3" like Regular Show and Tiny Toons Looniversity goes to Netflix.

It's likely that they will be a licensing agreement for these shows but they'll most definitely be like DreamWorks Channel - reruns. Under a separate company, they're not going to prioritise on these Netflix originals.

If it is deemed expensive these shows could as well get phased out and again that just dilutes Cartoon Network who had been reliant on these IPs.

Turning over the torch to Discovery Global, this is the company that MultiChoice is involved in a carriage dispute with over the future of its 12 channels. These include Discovery Channel, HGTV, TLC and as mentioned the linear Cartoon Network.

Of course, the matter of concern here to me is that as mentioned with Cartoon Network while the Netflix deal makes the company more leaner. There's still another 20 billion worth of debt they need to clean out.

Expecting for content to be reduced, potential sales or closures to operations or channels and lastly massive layoffs particularly for international feeds.

All of this might as well unfold while these channels are no longer on DStv but then again it's likely that MultiChoice could opt to keep a few channels. My guess would be Discovery Channel, TLC, Cartoon Network, Real Time, Cartoonito, ID and CNN.

MultiChoice Is In Trouble As M-Net And Showmax Are Also At Risk Of Losing Content From HBO, TLC And Cartoon Network

A few days ago, it was announced that Netflix had won the bid to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery (excluding it's cable networks). This comes after MultiChoice and the company made it transparent to viewers that their 12 TV channels on DStv could be going dark from next year.

These include Discovery Channel, TLC, Discovery Family, TNT, Real Time, Investigation Discovery, Food Network, HGTV, Travel Channel, Cartoon Network, Cartoonito and CNN. A petition had been going around following news of its possible demise.

According to sources, not only does this deal affect these cable networks but also their licensing deal with M-Net and Showmax for shows like House Of Dragons, The White Lotus and The Gilded Age.

MultiChoice had stated at the time that they were open to replacing these channels and if that's so none of the content from HBO or Warner's cable networks would form part of the lineup. Warner Bros. is one of MultiChoice's biggest clients.

Compared to Disney and Paramount that offer only 6 channels each, they offer a combined figure. Since Disney+ inception, content from the brand had been further reduced on M-Net, DStv and Showmax but that wasn't the case for Warner Bros. Discovery.

For MultiChoice and it's owner Canal+, there is a lot in stake for them should they opt to have these channels removed. In two years, they've lost over 2 million subscribers particularly in Kenya where it lost 85% of its subscribers and this will just accelerate.

Paramount already plans to close CBS Reality, CBS Justice, BET and MTV Base, and although the consumer numbers are expected to decline. It will be more severe as seen in Kenya should consumers miss out on 90 Day Fiance and Craig Of The Creek. 

Afrikaans Adaptation Of The Office To Premiere In January On Showmax

African streamer Showmax is in production on a South African adaptation of global hit format The Office, licensed by BBC Studios.

kykNET will preview the first episode at 8PM on Sunday, 18 January, ahead of the Showmax double bill premiere on Tuesday, 20 January. 

It was more than 20 years ago that the world was introduced to the wonderfully bleak mockumentary world of The Office, created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant. MetaCritic lists the original British version as the best-reviewed comedy series of all time, while the American version won five Emmys, including Outstanding Comedy Series, and was the most streamed show in the world in 2020. 

This universal appeal has seen the BAFTA- and Golden Globe-winning cult comedy remade for audiences around the world, including Australia, France, Canada, Chile, Israel, India, the Middle East, and Poland. 

The South African edition of The Office, to be called Die Kantoor, will be its 14th adaptation and will be filmed primarily in Afrikaans. 

Rapid Blue, part of BBC Studios, is producing the Showmax Original, with BBC Studios handling global sales.

SAFTA and Silwerskerm winner Bennie Fourie is the head writer and director. He is the co-creator of SAFTA Best TV Comedy winner Hotel and plays Baltus in the award-winning mockumentary Magda Louw. 

“It's a massive honour to be able to make the show,” says Bennie. “When we started way back with Hotel, this was the type of show that we were trying to emulate. I don’t think we were ready to make it then but after 10 years of playing with the mockumentary genre, now is the perfect time for us to do this. Everything has really fallen into place and we’re extremely excited.”  

Bennie is clear he’s not just translating The Office into Afrikaans to remake it shot-by-shot with local actors. Instead, he’s reimagined it from the ground up. “South Africa is not the UK and it’s not the US, and we really wanted to reflect that,” says Bennie.

This started by changing the office setting from a paper company to Deluxe Processed Meats, which specialises in polony. 

“South Africa is a proud meat-consuming nation,” says Bennie. “From biltong to droëwors to steak, many South Africans find some of our identity in the meat we eat. But polony is not on that list. It’s just so flippen pink. When you’re standing around a braai, the last thing you want to say is that you are passionate about polony. Especially after that Listeriosis outbreak.”

The staff are looked down upon by their head office, Deluxe Meats, who specialise in prime cuts, and no one feels safe in their positions, as a BBBEE business consortium recently bought a large part of the company.

Rapid Blue produced Is’thunzi, which earned Thuso Mbedu two International Emmy nominations. They’ve assembled a mix of familiar and fresh faces for Die Kantoor, led by 2025 Fleur du Cap winner Albert Pretorius (Niggies; Nêrens, Noord-Kaap) as Flip, the office manager. 

“Flip’s only been the manager for the last year but he’s excited to welcome the documentary crew,” says Bennie. “He feels like this is his Chasing the Sun; like his rise to greatness needs to be recorded.” 

The ensemble cast also includes SAFTA winner Schalk Bezuidenhout (Kanarie, Hotel), screen legend Lida Botha (Die Kwiksilvers), Carl Beukes (Jozi, The Shakedown), Silwerskerm winner Ilse Oppelt (Oh Schuks I’m Gatvol, Fishy Fêshuns), Daniah de Villiers (Mia in Mia and the White Lion), Mehboob Bawa (Bhai in Bhai’s Cafe), former KFM presenter Sipumziwe Lucwaba, and newcomer Gert du Plessis. 

“Our very first Showmax Original was a mockumentary, Tali’s Wedding Diary, so reimagining the most iconic mockumentary of them all has been a full circle moment for us,” says Tracy-Ann van Rooyen, executive head of content at Showmax, part of MultiChoice, a CANAL+ company.

The announcement comes as South Africa celebrates being in third place overall at tonight’s International Emmy Awards in New York, with a record five nominations: Showmax’s Koek (Drama) and Catch Me A Killer (Actress: Charlotte Hope), M-Net’s School Ties (Documentary), SuperSport’s Chasing The Sun 2 (Sports Documentary), and Play Room Live (Kids: Factual and Entertainment). 

While you wait for the South African version in January, re-watch the US version of The Office S1-9 on Showmax.

Cartoon Network Will Not Be Airing Iyanu Following It's African Release On Showmax

Adapted from Roye Okupe’s graphic novel series “Iyanu: Child of Wonder,” published by YouNeek Studios and Dark Horse Comics (the powerhouse behind “The Umbrella Academy” and “Hellboy”), the series is helmed by Roye Okupe himself, who was born and raised in Nigeria and now serves as Creator, Executive Producer and Showrunner. The series is produced by Lion Forge Entertainment, a leading Black-owned animation studio in North America.

Drawing on Nigerian culture, music, and mythology, the animated series follows Iyanu, a brave young orphan living in the magical kingdom of Yorubaland. While studying history and ancient arts, she yearns for a normal life—until a looming threat awakens divine powers not seen since the legendary Age of Wonders. Accompanied by newfound friends Biyi, Toye, and a magical leopard named Ekun, Iyanu sets out to uncover the source of this evil, unlocking her destiny along the way.

The entire first season of IYANU was made available across 44 African countries on streaming partner Showmax beginning June 13. Other broadcasters like ITVX will also stream the series across the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland.

The talented all-African IYANU voice cast includes: Serah Johnson as Iyanu; Okey Jude as Biyi, Iyanu’s carefree adventurer friend; Samuel Kugbiyi as Toye, Iyanu’s bookworm companion; Adesua Etomi-Wellington as Olori; Blossom Chukwujekwu as Kanfo, Toye's father; Stella Damasus as Sewa; Shaffy Bello as Emi – The One Mother; and Ike Ononye as Elder Alapani.

The show’s executive producers are David Steward II, Stephanie Sperber, Kirsten Newlands and Matt Heath from Lion Forge Entertainment, Roye Okupe of YouNeek Studios, Erica Dupuis of Impact X Capital, Ryan Haidarian of Forefront Media Group and Doug Schwalbe of Superprod.

Fans of Iyanu are likely waiting for its official rollout on Cartoon Network in Africa and other parts of the world but that won't be the case unfortunately. According to a rep at WBD, the series is not expected to air on Cartoon Network should there be any updates it will be published. 

It should be noted that although Warner Bros. Discovery publicised it as an original series it's being helmed at Lion Forge Entertainment. They are currently it's distribution for Cartoon Network and HBO Max but this is only applicable to the US leaving the window open for broadcasters like Showmax.

Showmax being owned by Canal+'s MultiChoice also manage the Africa Magic channels and distribute Play Room in the market making them possible broadcasters for Iyanu. As seen with other African animated series like Twende and Jay Jay The Chosen One.

Why Canal+ Wants To Acquire Comcast's Stake In Showmax?

Canal+ plans to roll out a “super app” as MultiChoice becomes wholly owned by the company which would combine DStv and Showmax's operations. Even offer content from third party platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and YouTube.

Although, Canal+ had stated they had no intention of closing Showmax this super app might be their way of gradually phasing out the brand. They aren't pleased with the notion that MultiChoice would launch a platform that would rival with DStv.

Aside from Showmax, the combined company would also be operating DStv Stream, Canal+ app and VIU. They are assessing whether to keep these services separated or merge them hence the super app.

The biggest roadblock to its integration plans would be Comcast's 30% stake in the streamer. Disney had to go back and forth with the company in order to merge with Hulu and Disney+ this is what could await Canal+ in its pursuit for Showmax.

Some outlets had even talked about how Canal+ could potentially sell their stake and I can only assume similar to DStv, the company is optimising for growth. Showmax is the third most used streaming service behind Amazon Prime Video and Netflix, Fabric reports.

As for content, there's a very high possibility that Canal+ will axe and merge Showmax's content slate with that of DStv. They had produced about 4000 hours of African content while MultiChoice had 6000 hours combined they'd have 10,000 hours in a year.

Would Canal+ really need Showmax if they can curate 10,000 hours of content in 20 to 35 languages for DStv alone?

Spinners,’ The South African Sports Drama From Canal+ And Showmax, Returns For Season 2

“Spinners,” the South African extreme sports action drama, is returning for a second season that brings back the creators, writers and cast of the hit drama set in Cape Town.

Co-produced by African streaming service Showmax and Canal+, season 2 of “Spinners” shot on location in South Africa with showrunner and co-creator Benjamin Hoffman. Back in the director’s chair is Jaco Bouwer, whose credits include the SXSW prizewinning eco-horror movie “Gaia.” Also back are Matthew Jankes and Sean Steinberg who penned season 2.

Joachim Landau is once again producing the gritty crime drama for Federation Middle East Africa & Caribbean, alongside Ramadan Suleman (“Zulu Love Letter”) who is co-producing through his South African full-service company Natives at Large.

Studiocanal, whose sister company Canal+ commissioned the series, is unveiling a first look of season 2 in the run up to Mipcom. The show illustrates creative synergies between the French TV group and Showmax, the streaming service of MultiChoice, the pan-African pay-TV operator that’s now fully owned by Canal+ and operates across 50 countries in sub-Saharan Africa. It will roll out on both Canal+ and MultiChoice platforms, Showmax and DStv.

The first season of “Spinners” make history as the first African show to take part in Canneseries’ main competition in 2023 and went on to win awards at Dakar Series, and the Shanghai TV festival, as well as garnered three nominations at the South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTA).

The first season followed 17-year-old Ethan (Cantona James) seeking a way out of the Southside’s bloody cycle of gang violence through spinning, a South African extreme motorsport that features drivers performing daredevil stunts. Season 2 sees is set two years after Ethan and his friends escaped the violent grip of gang life and have become spinning stars in the big city. “Fame, love, and happiness finally seem within reach—until a brutal ambush, orchestrated by Ethan’s old gang, shatters their peace. Desperate, Ethan turns to the Maseko clan for help but their protection comes at a heavy cost,” the synopsis reads.

Cantona James and Chelsea Thomas reprise their leading roles, along with Brendon Daniels – who starred in “White Lies” opposite Natalie Dormer, and local star Dillon Windvogel (“Blood & Water”). Cameos include Kayla Olifant, a top female spinner who was recently featured in the National Geographic series “David Blaine: Do Not Attempt.”

New cast members are also joining season 2 of “Spinners,” including Clementine Mosimane (“How to Ruin Christmas”), Mondli Makhoba (“Shaka iLembe”) and rising star Luyanda Zwane (“Sibongile and the Dlaminis”) and Aphiwe Mkefe (“Nkuleko”).

The production of “Spinners” season 2 reflects the ambition of Canal+ which aims at ramping up its pipeline of Canal+ original series in Africa to eight shows per year hailing from all over Africa.

Since 2018, Canal+ has produced 35 Canal+ series with African talent in 11 different African countries. These include “Invisibles,” “Agent,” “Cacao,” “Mami Wata,” “Eki,” “Or Blanc,” “Niabla,” “Ewusu” and “Lakantane.”

VIU And HBO Max Bundle Is Launching In Southeast Asia, Showmax Likely To Follow Soon For Consumers In Africa

HBO Max and Viu are bundling their services in Southeast Asia into a single subscription, which will bring HBO shows such as The Last of Us and The White Lotus together with Viu’s original Korean and Chinese dramas.

The bundle will launch in Q4 across Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, and is almost certainly the first of its kind spanning multiple markets in Asia Pacific.

HBO Max is bundled with other services elsewhere in the world, including in the States, where several variations exist. The service launched in seven key Asian territories in November last year – then known as Max, prior to the re-rebrand back to its original name over the summer.

“Following the proven consumer and business benefits of HBO Max bundles in other parts of the world, this new streaming offering will provide strong entertainment value for consumers across Southeast Asia, and help drive subscriber growth and stronger retention,” said James Gibbons, President of Asia Pacific at Warner Bros. Discovery.

“With access to two complementary and world class collections in a single subscription, local fans can enjoy even more choice – from premium Hollywood movies and series to standout local Asian content.”

The HBO Max/Viu bundle will include the likes of the Harry Potter, Game of Thrones and DC Universe franchises, feature such as Spinners and The Minecraft Movie, legacy series such as Friends and HBO originals, including The Last of Us and The White Lotus. From the Viu side comes reality series such as Running Man and 2 Days 1 Night, Chinese dramas including The Immortal Ascension and Love Has Fireworks and upcoming Viu original Korean dramas Taxi Driver 3 and My Youth. Yesterday, we revealed My Youth had been snapped up for Rakuten Viki for the U.S., Europe and Latin America.

Janice Lee, CEO of Viu and Managing Director of PCCW Media Group, said: “Our partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery is an exciting step forward in our promise to continually enhance Viu’s entertainment options and meet our viewers’ evolving tastes.

“By combining HBO Max’s Hollywood content with Viu’s Asian favorites in a single bundle subscription, we’re offering more choice in shows, easier access to diverse content and greater value across a wider range of programming.”

Recap: MultiChoice Showed Signs Vulnerability At First Hearing When Talking About Showmax

MultiChoice and Canal+ began talks with the Competition Tribunal on its first day of the hearing in which various topics were uncovered. But here's where things got more interesting:

Showmax, Africa's leading streaming service that was recently revamped in partnership with Comcast's NBCUniversal. From what we know, NBCUniversal owns a 30% stake which has helped Showmax bolster it's international portfolio and user interface.

MultiChoice was hoping to almost double DStv's subscriber numbers through Showmax in a few years and while they still haven't revealed subscriber numbers. Showmax on top of making a loss isn't living up to their expectation on subscriber count.

If it weren't for Canal+ (at least from what was implied), they wouldn't need outside help (NBCUniversal) to bolster Showmax with MultiChoice open to selling more shares in the streamer.

The interesting part was when they brought up Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon Prime Video. As some know, their consumer base exceeds 200 million subscribers for which MultiChoice brought up its dismal number of 14.5 million DStv subscribers.

MultiChoice had implied that DStv fees could have been a lot lower if they had reached such magnitude with their subscribers. Even going as far comparing figures with the streamer, for every Shaka iLembe that was launched MultiChoice invested R250,000 while Netflix with Blood And Water invested R2 million.

For every Shaka iLembe that was added to Showmax, Netflix could 

Canal+ To Launch Streaming Service MyCanal In Eastern Europe By The End Of 2026 Followed By Asia, Could It Replace DStv Stream And Showmax In Africa?

Canal+ is currently in the process of completing it's acquisition of MultiChoice after recieving a recommendation from the Competition Commission. Now the deal sits with the Competition Tribunal and Independent Communications Authority Of South Africa (ICASA) for further analysis. 

Reports going around is that MyCanal which is basically international version of DStv Stream and rival to Pluto TV from Paramount Global is looking to launch in Eastern Europe by the end of 2026 with Asia likely to follow in the first half of 2027.

The app combines a package of live content, replay and subscription video on demand. In addition to Canal’s own original content, it has also aggregated the platforms of Netflix, Apple TV+, HBO Max, Paramount+, BeIN, Eurosport and Dailymotion.

MyCanal currently operates in Africa namely Ghana, Liberia, Rwanda and Niger basically regions in which it pay-tv service resides. What was interesting about this report is that it mentioned Canal+ plans to rollout MyCanal in regions in which it operates.

With Canal+ currently pursuing MultiChoice who own Showmax and DStv Stream with VIU also operating in South Africa these could as well be potential candidates for its streaming endeavours.

After acquiring Netherland's SPI International, FilmBox+ serves as European equivalent of MyCanal with K+ in Vietnam so the idea of Showmax and DStv Stream fitting under this umbrella wouldn't seem far fetched a stretch.

Following the relaunch of Showmax with NBCUniversal, MultiChoice had mentioned that the number of activations had increased which indicates that the streamer has plenty of scale. This is where DStv Stream lacks as it serves as a companion app to the DStv satellite.

Some consumers have felt that DStv had become expensive even with its OTT counterpart having reduced rates for its dishless consumers. With the price of DStv Premium, consumers can pay for 5 streaming services making DStv Stream a liability.

Merging Showmax and DStv Stream would make it easier to market rather than splitting consumers and alienating them from content. DStv has a batch of channels whose content is not on Showmax and vice versa - merging could reduce those expenses.

Integrating these services could face various delays one being licensing agreements which MultiChoice could have extended for several years. Another has to do with NBCUniversal as they retain 30% in Showmax preventing full integration.

Canal+ could buy back the shares but NBCUniversal could prioritize it's streaming endeavours or want more money as seen with Hulu.

Showmax has been viewed as a direct competitor to DStv so Canal+ could look to reduce its investment perhaps by selling more shares. They do have this whole thing going on with VIU and I'd imagine them keeping a percentage in Showmax in order to tap the rest of Africa which VIU remains nonexistent.

But if I'm being rational, they could as well look to merge the two that's what happened when WarnerMedia and Discovery merged. They removed a ton of content (mainly animation) from Max and focused on adult programming while licensing it's other content to rival platforms.

Iyanu Premieres On Showmax With All-Nigerian Voice Cast

The animated series Iyanu will make its African debut on Showmax starting on June 13, 2025. It will feature an impressive lineup of Nigerian voice actors, including Adesua Etomi-Wellington, Blossom Chukwujekwu, Serah Johnson, Stella Damasus, and Shaffy Bello.

The show follows the story of a brave young orphan living in the magical kingdom of Yorubaland. When danger arises, she unwittingly activates divine powers that have been dormant since the Age of Wonders. With the help of her adventurous friend Biyi, voiced by Okey Jude, and the bookish Toye, played by Samuel Kugbiyi, Iyanu embarks on a journey to confront the evil threatening her community. They are joined by a magical leopard named Ekun, adding to the excitement of their adventure.

Iyanu has already made waves in the United States since its launch on Cartoon Network in April 2025. It has received critical acclaim and considerable viewership, ranking number one on the network and within the top 10 for kids and family series on Max. Screen Rant lauded it as “The Last Airbender and Black Panther hybrid you didn’t know you needed,” emphasising its innovative fusion of African mythology and contemporary superhero themes.

Adapted from the graphic novel Iyanu: Child of Wonder by Nigerian creator Roye Okupe, the animated series has captured audiences worldwide. Okupe expressed his excitement for the African premiere, emphasising the importance of representation in superhero narratives. “To see Iyanu launching on Showmax across 44 African countries is truly a full-circle moment,” he said.

Iyanu showcases the rich tapestry of Nigerian culture, music, and mythology and highlights the universal appeal of superhero stories. It invites viewers of all ages to connect with a hero who looks and feels like them. The series promises a magical journey of self-discovery and adventure for audiences throughout Africa and beyond.

Cartoon Network & Max Greenlight ‘Iyanu’ S2 Plus Two Movies

Following the breakout first season, a second season of Lion Forge Entertainment’s Iyanu, the epic animated fantasy series inspired by Nigerian mythology, along with two feature films expanding its universe, have been greenlit by Cartoon Network and Max.

Based on the graphic novel series Iyanu: Child of Wonder by Roye Okupe, and produced by Lion Forge Entertainment, Iyanu follows a teenage orphan who discovers her divine powers and her destiny to save the ancient kingdom of Yorubaland.

“We’re incredibly inspired by the response to Iyanu and the connection it has made with audiences,” said David Steward II, CEO of Lion Forge Entertainment. “The opportunity to expand this world with a second season and two feature films is a testament to the power of meaningful storytelling and innovative creative collaboration. We’re grateful for the continued support of our partners at Cartoon Network and Max, and it’s been a lot of fun working with Roye to bring Iyanu to life and build the franchise.”

Okupe, who also serves as series creator, executive producer and showrunner, commented, “This is a huge win for Iyanu, Lion Forge Entertainment and YouNeek Studios fans around the world. The support for our show has been nothing short of humbling — and because of that incredible response, we now get to bring the next chapter of Iyanu’s story to life. I’m thrilled to continue expanding the world of Iyanu and the YouNeek YouNiverse, and to share this journey with audiences across the globe. This is just the beginning.”

Season 2 will return with 10 new episodes where we’ll see Iyanu continue to master her burgeoning powers as she finds herself in the midst of a fierce conflict between Elu and the People of the Deep, led by a new formidable opponent. With various factions of Yorubaland vying for powerful divine artifacts that have reemerged, Iyanu strives to find a way to end the war and restore peace. As Team Chosen reunites and tensions rise between old allies and foes, Iyanu must confront even more powerful threats from the Age of Wonders — including secrets buried deep within her own past.

The first of the planned animated film extensions, titled The Age of Wonders, is set to be released later this year. It will transport viewers 500 years before Iyanu’s rise, taking them to a thriving Yorubaland at the peak of its magical civilization. When the embodiment of the seven deadly sins threatens the world, Iyanu’s predecessors join forces with the Divine Ones to prevent the Age of Darkness.

The show’s executive producers are David Steward II, Stephanie Sperber, Kirsten Newlands and Matt Heath from Lion Forge Entertainment, Erica Dupuis of Impact X Capital, Ryan Haidarian of Forefront Media Group and Doug Schwalbe of Superprod. Iyanu was adapted from Okupe’s graphic novel series Iyanu: Child of Wonder by Youneek Studios and Dark Horse Comics.

Iyanu Season 2 will return to Cartoon Network and Max in 2026, followed by the second film currently in production.

SABC Looking To Produce And License Content To Netflix And MultiChoice

SABC is technically insolvent meaning they've been unable to pay off most of their expenses after the government opted to no longer loan them the cash. This had led to them cancelling various content seen on SABC 2 and 3 including 7de Laan, The Estate and soon Muvhango.

In a turnaround plan, SABC is planning to curate exclusive content for the streamer SABC+ after garnering over 800,000 registered users. This may lead to some restructuring for SABC 2 and 3 as seen with Cartoon Network whose content slate is being optimised for streaming.

With SABC not having much cash to cover the expenses of its cast and crew there's a moderate to high chance that this content for SABC+ will not be fully funded by them. Similar to eVOD and Amazon Prime Video, SABC will likely give this partner an exclusive open window before making available to SABC+.

SABC had stated they would like to work with Netflix and MultiChoice on new content as they have already preexisting deals in place with the latter. Some years back, they had expressed interest in potentially reviving SABC 3's former shows Isidingo and Top Billing.

SABC 3 has been loss maker for sometime and MultiChoice and Netflix have the reach and cash to help these shows garner more scale. Maybe this partnership could lead SABC to revive more content like Soul City as some of their older library of shows are doing well streaming wise.

Reviving the latter on SABC 3 wouldn't really do much revenue wise as seen with Warner Bros. Discovery's animation slate. Internationally, this content is garnering traction while it's viewers in the main market would rather view this content online.

MultiChoice Will Be Removing Qwest TV From The DStv Platform From 14 May, No Word On Showmax

After MultiChoice opted to boot off the underperforming pop centred MTV Hits from Paramount Global in favour of Qwest TV from multi award-winning artist Quincy Jones. It is revealed through an electronic guide that Qwest TV will stop being distributed on DStv from 14th May.

This will be the second TV channel within the year following the closure of 1Max in March. It also joins a list of channels the pay-tv broadcaster failed to accommodate as they undergo a possible takeover by Canal+.

Qwest TV was a jazz infused music channel home to musical icons such as Erykah Badu, Questlove, Salif Keita, Gregory Porter and Fatoumata Diawara. They hosted exclusive concerts and documentaries, and similar to 1Max was also made available to stream on Showmax.

MultiChoice doesn't state why Qwest TV is being removed from DStv after 2 years or whether like 1Max the latter will continue on Showmax. But the usual "it forms parts of ongoing efforts to refresh our local content line-up and optimise the suite of channels on offer".

Best guess would be low viewership as Qwest TV was added as a replacement to MTV Hits both of which were Compact+ (and by default that's Premium). Another reason may have to do with revamping of Showmax or MultiChoice's financial position.

Since last year, MultiChoice has been technically insolvent which led to the closure of numerous channels and sale of NMIS Insurance Services. 

Although Qwest TV goes dark on the DStv platform in the coming weeks, MultiChoice does however offer an alternative lineup. For Qwest TV viewers this would be Trace Gospel and Dumisa with the latter ranging from funk, soul and jazz on DMX.

GOODBYE!!! MultiChoice And M-Net Dump 1Max From The DStv Platform By The End Of March, Unveils New Content For DStv Consumers

Viewers of DStv channel Mzansi Magic (channel 161) will have access to 1Max content from 31 March 2025, MultiChoice announced on Wednesday (12 March).

1Max, which was launched in April 2024, features content from popular streaming platform Showmax. It is available to DStv Premium and Compact Plus subscribers in South Africa.

However, MultiChoice has now decided to close it on the DStv platform and migrate its content to Mzansi Magic, according to a MyBroadband report.

‘1Max’ content coming to ‘Mzansi Magic’

“The decision follows detailed research into audience consumption behaviour,” MultiChoice said, adding that it’s part of the company’s channel simplification process.

Many Mzansi Magic viewers are DStv Compact subscribers, which means they previously could not watch Showmax content if they were not Showmax subscribers. They can now watch titles such as:

• Ithonga: A new telenovela about the bond shared by twins, starring Bonko Khoza.

• Cobrizi: The spin-off of the Emmy-nominated and multi-award-winning hit The River.

• Inimba: A new telenovela about Zoleka Mabandla. It is a journey of love, sacrifice, and ambition.

• Genesis: A high-stakes telenovela set in the world of Mzansi’s gospel music scene.

Season 2 of the award-winning Shaka Ilembe which premieres in June 2025.

Although 1Max is closing on DStv, its content is still available on demand on Showmax, which is free for DStv Premium subscribers and comes at a discount for lower packages, including Compact.

This means that viewers can watch their favourite Showmax content on demand on the streaming platform or as part of scheduled programming on Mzansi Magic on DStv.

“We know that our customers want to find their content as quickly as possible, without having to navigate across multiple channels or platforms,” MultiChoice South Africa CEO Byron du Plessis said.

“This consolidation also allows Mzansi Magic to further build its stellar lineup, becoming a stronger premium local content offering than ever before.”

Canal+'s Offer For MultiChoice Remains Unchanged As The Company Pivots Toward Streaming

Last month, it was reported that the French broadcaster Canal+ and MultiChoice have begun engaging with local legislation regarding the change in ownership. As part of the agreement, Canal+ would maintain a 45% hold of the company while the remaining 55% goes to various shareholders at MultiChoice.

With its current stake, Canal+ is opting to put all its focus on DStv, GOtv, M-Net and SuperSport as mentioned by the brand's CEO a couple months back. This led MultiChoice to make Sanlam a majority shareholder in their insurance company while others like Irdeto and Namola will probably survive as little investment goes into their operation.

Both these companies are seeking to comply with government's cap to foreign ownership and this could lead to MultiChoice giving Canal+ it's ROA business which is home to brands like Africa Magic and Pearl Magic. As Canal+ seeks local partners to manage the licenses of DStv in South Africa.

MultiChoice SA is putting all their focus on Showmax as their consumer base on DStv plummets hoping to extend its reach to 50 million households by 2028. It's likely that Canal+ will manage their pay-tv operations and serve as a collaborator of some sort to Showmax.

Ideally, it doesn't really seem impossible for them to own these platforms rather than the bulk of channels under their belt which include SABC News and Moja Love as the license holder would be in charge of those brands. If anything, one could imagine Showmax getting spun off into a standalone company.

Right now, neither MultiChoice SA or Showmax can survive without the income coming from DStv which is why they're hoping to skyrocket the number of platforms for the streamer. Although subscriber numbers have yet to be unveiled it has been estimated that Showmax has around 500000 to 3 million subscribers.

MultiChoice, NBCUniversal Invest R2.8 Billion Into Showmax

MultiChoice video streaming platform Showmax has received equity funding of $164 million (R2.8 billion), as it looks to take on international video-on-demand platforms such as Netflix and Disney+.

This, after in March last year, MultiChoice entered into an agreement with Comcast subsidiary NBCUniversal and Sky, to form a partnership for purposes of driving Showmax to become the “leading streaming service in Africa”.

Comcast, through its subsidiary NBCUniversal, acquired a 30% equity stake in Showmax, and provides ongoing support through the licensing of its Peacock platform and content from NBCUniversal, Universal Pictures, Peacock and Sky.

MultiChoice, through its wholly-owned subsidiary MultiChoice Group Holdings, and Comcast, through NBCUniversal, are providing funding to Showmax (only as and when Showmax’s board determines) during its investment phase.

According to MultiChoice, this is contributed in proportion to the companies’ respective shareholdings and they will share profits on the same basis in future.

It adds that equity funding is provided as required (either monthly or at other intervals) depending on Showmax’s working capital requirements and near-term budget (as determined by Showmax’s board) subject to a maximum capped amount.

As at 31 March 2024, MultiChoice Group and NBCUniversal provided, in the aggregate, $120 million (R2 billion) in equity funding to Showmax, each in proportion of their respective shareholdings.

“Since 1 April 2024 until the date of this announcement, MultiChoice Group and NBCUniversal provided, in the aggregate, $164 million (R2.8 billion) in equity funding to Showmax, each in proportion of their respective shareholdings,” says the JSE-listed video entertainment company.

Faced with declining subscriber numbers in the traditional pay-TV space, MultiChoice is pinning its hopes on streaming platforms Showmax and DStv Stream.

The company’s latest financial results show overall active subscribers declined by 9%.

According to the company, this was mainly due to a 13% decline in the “rest of Africa” business, with Nigeria, Angola and Zambia most affected, while the South African business was more resilient, declining by only 5%.

The results come as French-based media giant Canal+ is looking to take over the South African firm in a R30 billion deal.

Over the years, MultiChoice’s subscriber numbers have reduced amid pressure from global streaming services such as Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon Prime.

To boost its streaming offerings, MultiChoice relaunched Showmax, stating its intention of becoming the leading platform in Africa.

However, research projections show the new Showmax will become Africa’s second-biggest video streaming service in five years.

According to a report by Digital TV Research, Sub-Saharan Africa will have 16 million paying subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) subscriptions by 2029, up from seven million at the end of 2023.

It notes Netflix will remain the SVOD market leader, with 6.9 million subscribers by 2029, and Showmax will be the second-largest platform, with 3.7 million paying subscribers.

MultiChoice recently enhanced its DStv Stream app

 by adding personalisation features, which it believes will draw more viewers to the platform.

How Showmax Has Become A DStv Competitor To Canal+?

Showmax is African based streaming service operated by DStv parent company MultiChoice which is in the process of being acquired by French broadcaster Canal+. It takes on other streamers in the market like Netflix, SABC+, eVOD, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+ and Disney+.

Since late 2023, NBCUniversal obtained a 30% stake in streaming service which gave consumers access to content from Universal Pictures, DreamWorks Animation and Telemundo International. This also helped the company extend the reach of Peacock after being constant to America. 

After licensing various channels like Studio Universal, Universal TV, DreamWorks, E! Entertainment and Telemundo to DStv consumers in Africa. They even curated OTT version of these channels known as Universal+ through DStv Stream with plans to get their DStv Glass service scrapped. 

MultiChoice sites the current economic climate as the reason this product had been shelved but some believe it may have to do with the possible takeover by Canal+. As the CEO of Canal+ had mentioned at some point that their prime focus is being allocated onto content and content distribution. 

MultiChoice has all these other ventures such as Namola, Showmax, SuperSportBET and Irdeto part of which just seems like a waste now based on its financial performance. Not long ago, they had reduced their stake on DStv Insurance to 25% with the rest allocated to Sanlam. 

Canal+ was able to brief the media in on the plans awaiting MultiChoice one of which having to do with another subsidiary, Showmax. With Netflix taking over how people consume content, MultiChoice had to trim the entertainment on DStv down to a point where Me had been axed.

Me was being built up as open window to M-Net for Compact consumers similar to how Mzansi Wethu wad tailored for Access. Now that portal had been closed and merged to what Compact+ consumers alongside Premium view as 1Max.

Canal+ offers the same content on different platforms through MyCanal it is basically how DStv Stream is with the DStv platform which is multimedia. Giving consumers different ways of accessing the very same content but this stopped being the case with DStv and Showmax. 

When Disney+ launched all of its existence was built around its linear offering same with Paramount+, SABC+ and eVOD. But with Showmax that changed as you get content like Chucky: The Series on Showmax but not through DStv yet M-Net has to fold all their content on Showmax.

DStv has to rely on sport to get any attention nowadays but when it comes to entertainment from Zee Zonke for instance those don't make much of an impact with Showmax. Hollywood Reporters even did an article on how content from Telemundo and TLNovelas is under siege from these platforms.

Similar to how M-Net is ramping up its local offering and going as far as partnering with international studios a similar outcome awaited Telemundo and TelevisaUnivison. In the end, these brands are trying to sustain themselves in a world where Netflix can control how you view them.

Showmax And VIU Are Likely To Remain Unscathed In Canal+'s Pursuit Of MultiChoice

VIU is an Asian based streaming service that is formed as part of a joint venture with PCCW Media Limited and French broadcaster Canal+. Residing in more than 20 countries, VIU is estimated to have reached over 60 million users as the streamer plans to build up on its content slate.

Canal+ which serves as partner is currently in pursuit of Showmax's parent company MultiChoice after garnering stakes is now sitting at 45%. The plan should this acquisition succeed is to create an African powerhouse that can take on giants like Disney and Netflix. 

Of course, one of those burning questions is how VIU and Showmax will be able to co-exist seeing as they'll have the same owner - Canal+. Both have been producing content locally and licensing from international studios and the fear here is that this acquisition could reduce that. 

But that may not be the case here exactly although Canal+ is obtaining MultiChoice the only way this deal could move forward would be the assistance of another business. Canal+ is still trying to build its stake in VIU and its very unlikely that they'd pursue full ownership. 

If anything one can only estimate that similar to France, Canal+ is probably trying to do what MultiChoice has with SABC News and eNCA and flex their dominance. VIU and Showmax will most definitely be treated as individual broadcasters in the streaming regime. 

VIU is constrained to Asia, Middle East and South Africa and Showmax extends to other parts of Africa. So content wise, there may not be that much changes of course nothing can be guaranteed here I can imagine select content from M-Net most probably popping up there.

Then there's that whole matter with the SABC, how different will VIU's relationship be by then when its parent company acquires its rival. Do these just fall off the schedule in favor of M-Net's local offering or does this offering remain constraint on separate platforms.

Canal+ had been producing content through StudioCanal and with MultiChoice it plans to increase local investment. Showmax instead of being a platform with content from M-Net, NBC and so forth switches to become some M-Net based streaming service with select international content on VIU.

If there's one thing that was kind of speculated for sometime was Canal+ looking to possibly trim or lessen some of the agreements put in place for content. In place of reduced international offering would be content generated from France and parts of Europe.

Showmax And South African Manufacturer QVWi Partner To Transform TVs Into Smart TVs

Leading African streaming service Showmax has partnered with KwaZulu-Natal’s largest local manufacturer of electronic products, QVWi, a Skyworth Digital Company, to bridge the technology and accessibility gap with a range of affordably priced streaming devices.  

From 1 August 2024, select devices will come preloaded with Showmax as a pre-installed app and a complimentary two-month subscription to Showmax Entertainment.   

One of the most pocket-friendly and easy-to-use devices is the QVWi Leap TV S2 streaming stick with built-in Google Chromecast technology. The Google-based streaming device transforms almost any TV into a smart TV capable of running the latest app technology. Simply plug the device into the TV’s HDMI port and start streaming shows directly from the Showmax app to the TV. Also available is the Leap S3 streaming TV box and range of smart TVs, which provide easy access to Showmax’s extensive library of movies, TV shows, documentaries, and more, at an affordable price point.  Showmax Entertainment offers an unbeatable selection of everything from the latest of HBO to The Real Housewives of Durban, Lagos, and Nairobi.   

A key differentiator for Showmax is being a leading investor in local original content, such as drama series Adulting; iconic documentaries like Tracking Thabo Bester; and trending reality shows like The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip – South Africa. Since its relaunch in February, a record 40 Showmax Originals have been added to the platform, from Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa.     

Showmax Originals continue to generate widespread acclaim. Spinners became the first African series ever to screen at CanneSeries, before going on to beat the Emmy-winning final season of Succession to win Best Foreign TV Series at the 29th Shanghai TV Festival’s Magnolia Awards, one of the biggest accolades in Asia. Similarly, Catch Me A Killer was the first South African series ever to screen at Series Mania. At Kenya’s Kalasha Awards this year, The Real Housewives of Nairobi was named Best TV Show, while Pepeta took home Best TV Drama and the Viewer’s Choice Award. And at the upcoming kykNET Silwerskerm Awards for Film and TV, Koek is the most-nominated drama series overall.   

Showmax also focuses on delivering top international content, including the three biggest films of last year – Barbie, The Super Mario Bros. Movie, and 2024 Best Picture Oscar winner Oppenheimer – as well as hit series like HBO’s House of the Dragon. July highlights include two of the biggest hits of 2024 so far: The Beekeeper, with Jason Statham, and the musical remake of Mean Girls, not to mention Anyone But You, the biggest romcom at the global box office since 2016.  

The QVWi Leap TV streaming stick is priced competitively with a recommended retail price of R999, ensuring affordability and access to streaming while removing the expense, waste and inconvenience of upgrading older model TVs to support the latest streaming technology.   

“We are thrilled to partner with QVWi to bring these innovative, affordable streaming devices to the market,” says Showmax CEO Marc Jury. “Our goal has always been to make entertainment accessible to everyone. This partnership helps us achieve our mission to be the home of streaming for Africa by providing our customers with more affordable options to enjoy our fantastic content.”  

QVWi Retail CEO Nazim Cassim adds, “Collaborating with Showmax allows us to leverage our technological expertise to create products that enhance the user experience. These devices provide a smooth and lag-free viewing experience that will immerse you in the action, whether you’re binge-watching a show or enjoying a blockbuster movie. Prepare to be amazed by the incredible sights and sounds that await you.”  

Coming up in July and August viewers can look forward to a wealth of Original and international content including the ongoing House of the Dragon Season 2, satirical political drama The Regime Season 1 with Kate Winslet, all of Africa’s Housewives in action including The Real Housewives Girls Trip: South Africa Season 1, new Showmax Original family sitcom One Weeks, and the upcoming The Mommy Club: Sugar & Spice Season 1, arriving 8 August.  

The new QVWi devices will be available from 1 August 2024 in all leading retailers and include a range of streaming devices as well as smart TVs.