Scheduling Update: BET And MTV Base Will Stop Airing On DStv From January 1st At 9AM CAT

As reported moments ago, CBS Reality, CBS Justice, BET and MTV Base will be exiting DStv soon due to a corporate restructure at Paramount. This had led to several linear channels to shut down from across the globe and this included various MTV branded channels.

MultiChoice sent a notice to various DStv consumers informing them that these 4 channels would be exiting DStv by 31 December 2025. Yet on the programme guide, BET and MTV Base are only scheduled to close by 1 January 2025 at 9AM CAT.

This could mean several things the first Paramount could be curating special programming for the channels. As I understand it, MTV Base had been curating content to celebrate 20 years perhaps BET with its 10 year presence is being stringed along.

Their closures seemed abrupt when it was first announced and this could be their way of trying of settling the score or rather make amends. 

On the MultiChoice side of things, the company will now to have work around the clock to allocate more content or risk losing subscribers. Since their buyout by Canal+, DStv consumers have seen some enhancement with the addition of Ligue 1 and NBA on SuperSport.

Canal+ is expected to provide a detailed report about its plans for MultiChoice by next year. Some of which include merging their operations with that of MultiChoice a process in which the company is expected to conclude within 12 to 18 months.

Channel Closure: CBS Reality And CBS Justice Will Stop Airing On DStv From 31 December 2025

Due to a corporate restructure at Paramount, DStv consumers will be bidding farewell to both BET and MTV Base as the channels are set to close by 31 December 2025. Joining the duo will be CBS Reality and CBS Justice in which the company operate alongside AMC Networks International.

This will follow a slate of channels by both companies which are set to shutter by the end of 2025. This includes CBS Reality in Poland, BET in France, Nickelodeon's channels in New Zealand and MTV's music channels across the whole of Europe.

CBS Reality was added onto MultiChoice's DStv by November 2001 as Zone Reality offering reality based content and documentaries. It was known for shows like Cheaters, Judge Judy, Dogs Behaving Very Badly, Border Patrol: Beyond Borders and Hardcore Pawn.

It's closure means DStv consumers won't be seeing the final season of Judge Judy as CBS Reality was currently broadcasting it's 21st season. 

MultiChoice added CBS Justice as a replacement to Hearst's Crime + Investigation by November 2019. Serving as a spin-off to CBS Reality, it offered shows like Murder Made Me Famous, World's Most Evil Killers and Donal MacIntyre's Murder Files.

As reported, MultiChoice will be adding four pop-up channels for the festive holidays: DStv 30, AFCON, fliekNET and The Holiday Channel. They are also running an Upsize promotion on various DStv packages which will just serve as distractions.

Canal+ is currently integrating it's African operations with that of MultiChoice following its acquisition of the company. This has led to the further additions of Sunu Yeuf (Senegalese), Pulaagu (Pulaar/Fulfulde), Mandeka (Mandinka and related Manding languages) and Maboke (Lingala).

New Channel Alert: Sunu Yeuf, Pulaagu, Mandeka And Maboke Coming Soon To DStv

During the month, it was reported that MultiChoice would be adding Rwandan based channel Zacu TV to the DStv platform. This forms part of Canal+'s integration plans with MultiChoice following its acquisition of the company a few months ago.

DStv consumers will soon have access to more African based programming with the additions of Sunu Yeuf, Pulaagu, Mandeka And Maboke. Currently seen on Canal+ Afrique, the channels will be made available to DStv consumers in select markets by 9 December.

Sunu Yeuf is operated by Senegalese production company Marodi TV, one of the major players in the creation of series in Africa. These include Pod & Marichou, Maitresse D'un Homme Marié (Mistress Of A Married Man) and Karma.

Pulaagu is a general entertainment channel offering series in Pulaar/Fulfulde, highlighting the customs and traditions of the Fulbe with cult, recent, and unpublished series like Hakkee Rewbe, Thierno Abou and Jamano (Cultural Epic).

Mandeka is a general entertainment channel that focuses on 100% African content, specifically films and series in the Bambara and Malinke languages. It offers a variety of programs, including dramas like Polygamie and N' Khele. 

Maboke is a general entertainment channel which broadcasts solely in Lingala which is widely spoken in Congo. The programming focuses on local productions such as Chez Coco, Bilombe Ya Basi, and Tribunal Ya Bolingo.

DStv Getting Four New Pop-Up Channels For The Festive Season

• DStv has confirmed the four pop-up channels that will be available from now, throughout the festive season.

• Each of the channels will be available until specific dates in January next year.

• DStv is also adding a dedicated channel for AFCON 2025.

With schools set to close soon, and children spending more time at home for the festive season, DStv has confirmed that four pop-up channels will be made available to subscribers to enjoy more content over the coming weeks and into the New Year.

The channels are also part of the company’s 30th birthday celebrations.

“DStv subscribers have welcomed us into their homes for 30 years, and 2025 has been our year of giving back,” noted Willington Ngwepe, CEO of MultiChoice, in a release with Hypertext. 

“From 10 November, the DStv Upsize campaign has given DStv Family and Access subscribers automatic access to all DStv Compact channels, and all DStv Compact and Compact Plus subscribers access to every DStv Premium channel. Now, as families reunite over the festive season, DStv is coming to the party – and since we never arrive empty-handed, we’re bringing a feast of four pop-up channels that celebrate thewatch-together spirit,” he added.

As for the new pop-up channels, they are as follows:

• The Holiday Channel (Channel 198) – until 3rd January 2026,

• DStv 30 (Channel 197) – from 1st December 2025 to 21st January 2026),

• FliekNET (Channel 149) – from 12th December 2025 to 11th January 2026,

• SuperSport AFCON 2025 (Channels 202 and 222) – from 18th December 2025 to 19th January 2026.

As far as content is concerned, the Holiday Channel is fairly self explanatory, but DStv 30 is focused on nostalgia. In particular, it will showcase some of the best original television that DStv created over the past three decades.

“DStv 30 is nostalgia in overload mode as Scot Scott jumps back in his helicopter for Fortuinsoekers Season 2 on Mondays and Tuesdays at 6PM. Catch the early-early days of Our Perfect Wedding on Saturdays at 6PM, oil empire drama series Jacob’s Cross on Wednesdays at 8PM, M-Net’s filmed-on-location game lodge telenovela The Wild on Thursday nights at 8PM, Carte Blanche’s most impactful episodes on Sunday nights at 7PM, and much more,” the broadcaster highlighted.

As for fliekNET, it will be serving up the best Silwerskerm shorts from the last two editions, DStv pointed out. “This includes Noise & Neighbours (on Tuesday, 16 December at 8:05PM), which recently won Best International Short Film at the Chelsea Film Festival in New York,” it continued.

Lastly, for the 35th Total Energies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), taking place in Morocco, two dedicated channels – SS AFCON 2025 Channel 202 and SS AFCON 2025 Channel 222.

Sweet Love Coming Soon To Star Life

Star Life, an English dubbed Bollywood channel operated by JioStar that offers a variety of series and movies has announced the addition of a new series Sweet Love. Known in India as Kabhi Neem Neem Kabhi Shahad Shahad, the series airs from 3 December at 22:30 CAT.

Synopsis for Sweet Love 

Katha and UV's paths cross in college, leading to an initial heated argument where Katha makes a remark about UV's mother, wounding his pride. In a fit of rage, UV decides to teach Katha a lesson by charming her into falling in love with him as part of a plot with his friends. Katha, initially impressed by his perceived kindness, starts developing feelings for him, unaware of his true intentions. The deception is exposed when Katha overhears UV discussing his successful plan, leaving her heartbroken and reinforcing her belief that men are untrustworthy. 

Katha Kumari Jindal: A compassionate botanist who is reserved and has a strong moral compass. She has a deep-seated distrust of men and marriage due to her mother's past experiences.

Udayveer "UV" Jindal: A handsome, charismatic chef who runs a café and appears carefree on the surface but deeply misses his mother, who was forced to leave the family home years ago due to manipulation by his aunt. 

Based on the series Kothha, Sweet Love premiered on StarPlus on 6 June and concluded on 22 September 2025 with 106 half hour episodes. It starred Afia Tayebali as Katha Kumari Jindal and Abrar Qazi as Udayveer "UV" Jindal.

Sweet Love airs daily at 21:30 CAT replacing Sacred Love from 3 December alongside Bound By Love at 22:30 and Noyontara: The Hidden Truth at 22:00. Later in the month, Star Life will also be rolling out a female centered series titled Ishani.

Insult To Injury. MultiChoice Might Be Reviving Me As A Pop-Up Channel On DStv

Last year, MultiChoice and M-Net decided to do away with Me and 1Magic as part of its streamlining endeavours with further content folded under Showmax. From the looks of things, it appears as if MultiChoice is now pushing to have Universal TV and Bravo to pick up the cracks.

Bravo and Universal TV are owned by NBCUniversal who have a 30% stake in Showmax so the idea of MultiChoice using these brands as replacements doesn't seem far fetched. Canal+ Afrique whose parent company took control of MultiChoice had been distributing them in place of the channels.

For a limited time, MultiChoice had given its Premium and Compact+ consumers an open window to Showmax through 1Max. This is what the company had put in place of 1Magic while those viewing Me got nothing.

Fast forward to 2025, it looks like MultiChoice may be looking to revive Me in a not-so-distant future most likely like how 1Max was set up for 1Magic.

MultiChoice had been experimenting on the channel but this carnation of the brand looks nothing like Me or it's previous forms being M-Net City, M-Net Series Zone and The Series Channel.

Me would boast a variety of international series and films while this version only exists to promote local content from M-Net's stable being Tonight With Trevor Noah, Gomora and The Wedding Bashers. It's kind of like what they did with M-Net Binge and not long ago with 1Max and 1Magic.

M-Net Binge was a catch-up channel for M-Net's programming then was shuttered and revived as an HBO pop-up channel. 1Magic which infused with South African flavour was folded under a Pan-African tailored brand like 1Max.

At least for these incarnates some fragments of the content was retained unlike Me in this regard whose offering is just limited to local content or repeats. Gomora had already been viewed on Mzansi Magic with Vallei Van Sullei on KykNet & Kie why is it being used to hype up a pop-up channel.

The only rash explanation would be the Mzansi Magic 16 pop-up channel the company had launched a few months ago. For the festive holidays, they revived it but now as "The Me Channel" but with KykNet's lineup of content.

Interesting to note, M-Net City which served as Me's previous incarnations was initially suppose to launch as an entertainment channel for South African programming. Before M-Net scrapped plans to launch the channel only for the trademark to be revived as a placemat for M-Net Series Zone.