Update: Canal+ Secures Lifeline Deal for DStv Channels
Canal+ has successfully negotiated a last-minute, multi-year deal with Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), securing the future of all 12 at-risk channels on DStv. The agreement was officially announced on December 31, 2025, just hours before the channels were set to go dark at midnight.
The channels saved from removal are:
CNN International, Cartoon Network, Discovery Channel, TLC, Cartoonito, Food Network, The Travel Channel, TNT Africa, Investigation Discovery (ID), Real Time, HGTV, and Discovery Family.
The development comes after weeks of tense negotiations, following reports earlier this month that DStv was preparing to lose up to 16 channels — including 12 from Warner Bros. Discovery and four others from CBS and Paramount.
How the Deal Unfolded
The agreement follows weeks of uncertainty and a stark warning sent directly to DStv subscribers in early December, when MultiChoice revealed that its distribution deal with WBD was set to expire on December 31, 2025.
According to insiders, the dispute reportedly centered on carriage fees, with MultiChoice (now under Canal+ ownership) suggesting that WBD’s asking price was too high for renewal.
Leveraging its international scale, Canal+ stepped in to broker what both companies described as a “milestone” global partnership, extending beyond South Africa.
Key highlights of the deal include:
- Exclusive Rights: CNN International and Cartoon Network will remain exclusive to DStv in South Africa.
- HBO Max Integration: The deal paves the way for the future rollout of HBO Max in Africa, expected in 2026 — marking a major strategic expansion for Canal+.
- Multi-Territory Scope: The agreement also covers channel renewals and HBO Max distribution in several European markets, including Poland, France, and Romania.
“CANAL+ and its long-standing partner Warner Bros. Discovery are pleased to announce the signing of a new multiyear and multi-territory agreement, marking a major milestone in the development of their collaboration on an international scale,” the companies said in a joint statement.
A Partial Victory: Four Channels Still Ending
While the Warner Bros. Discovery deal spares viewers from a major content loss, four other channels from different networks are still ending as planned:
- BET Africa and MTV Base (Paramount Africa) officially shut down at 9 a.m. on January 1, 2026.
- CBS Justice and CBS Reality (CBS AMC Networks) went off-air at midnight, December 31, 2025.
This confirms earlier reports of channel reshuffles, including when DStv dropped E! Entertainment after 21 years to refresh its entertainment offering.
The Bigger Picture for DStv
This successful negotiation marks the first major content deal concluded under Canal+ ownership, signaling the French media group’s new strategic direction for MultiChoice.
Canal+ is focused on reducing operating costs while leveraging its global bargaining power to secure more favorable carriage terms and bundle premium services like HBO Max and Warner content under the DStv ecosystem.
The deal comes months after Warner Bros. Discovery announced a shift in strategic focus — unveiling plans to separate the company, in a tax-free transaction, into two publicly traded entities: Streaming & Studios and Global Networks. The restructuring aims to sharpen investment priorities and streamline operations across its entertainment and distribution divisions, adding further context to this renewed partnership with Canal+.
The channel shakeup also unfolds against a backdrop of DStv’s 2025 price hikes, subscriber losses, and mounting competition from global streaming platforms — trends that continue to reshape South Africa’s pay-TV landscape.
Over the past five years, DStv has removed more than 22 channels, even as it adds new ones and doubles down on local productions to retain audiences. The constant churn underscores shifting viewer habits and the platform’s evolving strategy to stay relevant in an increasingly digital-first market.
Regional and Diplomatic Relief
The announcement is expected to calm diplomatic tensions across African markets, where DStv’s potential channel shutdown had sparked concern. Earlier this month, Ghana’s envoy to South Africa urged calm amid fears that the DStv crisis could spill into trade relations.
The new deal, which preserves key news and entertainment content, is being widely welcomed as a “New Year’s gift” for viewers — and a signal that Canal+ is serious about stabilizing and strengthening MultiChoice’s African portfolio.
What to Expect in 2026
With this new agreement, DStv subscribers can look forward to:
- Continued access to CNN, Discovery, Cartoon Network, TLC, and other key WBD channels.
- The rollout of HBO Max in Africa during 2026.
- Expanded Canal+ programming partnerships and exclusive content integrations.
- Ongoing investment in local and regional African productions.
The companies are expected to reveal additional details about new content and pricing plans in early 2026.
For now, subscribers can celebrate a rare victory in South Africa’s fast-changing pay-TV landscape — one where global media alliances continue to shape what audiences watch, and how they watch it.
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