DStv losing 12 channels in 2026

SA households may pay more for less amid a corporate war threatening popular offerings

- ALYSSIA BIRJALAL

THE countdown to 2026 has become a countdown to a blackout as millions of South African households are staring down the barrel of a New Year's Eve deadline that could see 12 of the country’s most popular channels vanish from their screens at the stroke of midnight.

While families prepare for celebrations, a corporate war is raging behind closed doors. At the heart of this saga is a high-stakes negotiation deadlock between pay-TV giant MultiChoice and global media titan Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD).

The stakes couldn’t be higher. If a deal isn’t struck by December 31, DStv subscribers will wake up on New Year's Day to an emptier entertainment landscape, losing heavy hitters like CNN International, Cartoon Network, Discovery Channel and TLC, among other favourites.

This potential loss comes on top of the already confirmed exit of four Paramount channels (MTV Base, BET Africa, CBS Justice and CBS Reality), bringing the total casualty count to 16 channels overnight.

Despite this massive content shed, MultiChoice has confirmed one thing will remain the same: the price.

“While channels may be added or removed from time to time, there is currently no change to DStv subscription pricing.

“This includes Paramount pulling BET Africa, MTV Base, CBS Justice and CBS Reality from our platform. Customers continue to have access to a broad range of entertainment, sport, news, lifestyle and kids content across their packages,” shared the MultiChoice Group.

The ‘irreplaceable’ defence

MultiChoice has publicly postured that it is ready to walk away, sending emails to subscribers claiming they have “strong alternatives” lined up to fill the gap.