DStv shutting down 4 channels by December 31, may lose 12 more soon –Report

*MultiChoice affirms that Paramount Africa also will be shutting down BET Africa and MTV Base, and that the two channels will be discontinued on DStv and GOtv at 09:00 January 1, 2026

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

DStv, a MultiChoice prime pay-TV service, is losing four channels from Paramount Africa and CBS AMC at the end of 2025, while 12 more channels from Warner Bros. Discovery are in jeopardy.

ConsumerConnect gathered the South African-owned MultiChoice Monday, December 1, 2025, notified customers that negotiations to renew a distribution agreement with Warner Bros. Discovery were deadlocked.

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The agreement between the pay-TV company and Warner Bros. Discovery also expires 31 December, 2025.

MultiChoice is the South African parent company that owns and operates DStv (Digital Satellite Television), a major pay-TV platform in Sub-Saharan Africa, alongside other services, such as GOtv and Showmax, providing entertainment through satellite, online apps, and various channels across the continent.

Essentially, DStv is MultiChoice’s flagship product, delivering movies, sports (SuperSport), and local content (Africa Magic) to millions of homes.

Affirming the latest development, the company disclosed that Paramount Africa would be shutting down BET Africa and MTV Base, and that these two channels would be discontinued on DStv and GOtv at 09:00 January 1, 2026, SA-based MyBroadband report said.

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It also stated: “Our customers can continue to enjoy other international channels from Paramount, including Nickelodeon, NickToons, Nick Jr, Comedy Central, and MTV.”

Similarly, CBS AMC Networks will be shutting down CBS Reality and CBS Justice December 31, as the countdown to the New Year’s ends.

The pay-TV company thanked Paramount and CBS for their partnership, report noted.

However, the direr announcement came Monday afternoon, when MultiChoice informed subscribers that they had been unable to renew their agreement with Warner Bros. Discovery.

The 12 more channels at risk in this regard are Discovery, CNN, TLC, Discovery Family, Real Time, TNT Africa, Food Network, HGTV, Investigation Discovery, Cartoon Network, Cartoonito, and the Travel Channel.

Report, however, said it was unclear if the distribution agreement with the company also includes HBO content that is broadcast elsewhere on the DStv platform.

MultiChoice told customers: “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 impasse comes as Warner Bros. Discovery is considering acquisition offers from Paramount Skydance, Comcast, and Netflix, report stated.

A recent New York Post report, however, suggested that Netflix’s bid for the media powerhouse’s studio and streaming division might be dead in the water.

Citing an anonymous source, it reported that United States (US) White House officials raised concerns about the deal with respect to Netflix’s market dominance, and suggested the streamer could face a full antitrust enquiry.

Bidding war for Warner Bros. Discovery Days earlier, Bloomberg reported that Warner Bros. Discovery had asked potential buyers to submit new, sweetened offers after receiving an initial round of bids.

After reviewing any improved offers, Warner Bros. may enter a period of exclusive negotiations with one of the companies, sources said. Comcast and Netflix are most interested in Warner Bros. film and TV library, which includes everything from The Sopranos to Bugs Bunny.

Paramount is equally willing to buy the whole company, including cable channels, such as TNT and the Cartoon Network. Warner Bros. said it would evaluate strategic options last month after receiving interest in all or part of the business from multiple suitors.

All three Warner Bros. suitors present a host of regulatory concerns that could complicate a sale. Among the major assets under its studios and streaming division is Warner Bros. Entertainment, which includes DC Studios, Turner Classic Movies, and several major film studios.

It also includes Cartoon Network and the Discovery Kids library, which fall under the Warner Bros. Television Group.

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

HBO houses hit franchises 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.

Even if MultiChoice and Warner Bros. Discovery reach an agreement before New Year’s, should an acquisition proceed, it could still cause a significant disruption in South Africa’s TV landscape, according to report.

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