‘Why DStv may lose more subscribers’

South African pay TV firm, MultihChoice/DStv, may from January lose thousands of subscribers over possible discontinuation of 12 major Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) channels, including CNN, Discovery Channel, and Cartoon Network if MultiChoice and WBD fail to agree on a new distribution deal. The pay TV made this known in an email to its customers yesterday. MultiChoice, now Hhhunder Canal+ ownership, noted that the current carriage agreement with WBD expires on 31 December 2025. “While discussions between the parties continue, no agreement has been reached at this stage. If this remains unchanged, a number of Warner Bros. Discovery channels may no longer be available on DStv from 1 January 2026,” the company said in the mail.

The 12 channels at risk include: Discovery Channel, CNN International, TLC, Discovery Family, Real Time, TNT Africa, Food Network, HGTV, Investigation Discovery, Cartoon Network, Cartoonito, and Travel Channel.

MultiChoice had faced declining subscriber numbers in recent months.

Yesterday’s warning might further shrink the firm’s subscriber figures and deepen its financial pressure.

The company lost 2.8 million active linear subscribers over the last two financial years, with 1.2 million lost in 2025 alone, an 8% year-on-year decline split evenly between South Africa and the rest of Africa.

Multichoice had lost 1.4 million customers in the last two years amid subscription price increments.

Daily Trust reports that the platform is set to lose even more content with the WBD’s possible backout.

Meanwhile, Paramount Africa will discontinue BET Africa and MTV Base from 1 January 2026, while CBS Reality and CBS Justice will shut down on 31 December 2025.

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