Goodbye E! – hello Bravo Africa: DStv shakes up Its channel lineup
After more than two decades on South African screens, E! Entertainment is officially being scrapped from DStv on October 7 (2025), marking the end of an era for celebrity-focused television in Africa. The channel will be replaced by Bravo Africa, NBCUniversal’s reality-driven powerhouse that promises a fresh slate of global and local franchises.
NBCUniversal confirmed the shake-up this week, saying the transition reflects “the strong slate of Bravo programming that had already been added to E!”.
“We are thrilled to be launching Bravo Africa, with our partners DStv, and to build on the success of the NBCUniversal channel portfolio in Africa by bringing audiences even more of the mega-hit global franchises that they already love – now as part of Bravo, the linear channel brand that is synonymous with top-quality reality content,” said Hendrik McDermott, MD of Hayu, EMEA Networks & International Direct-to-Consumer, NBCUniversal.
What’s Coming to Bravo Africa?
Bravo Africa will serve up a heavy dose of global reality favourites including:
- The Real Housewives (Atlanta, DC, Salt Lake City — and the brand new Real Housewives of London)
- Below Deck (Mediterranean, Sailing Yacht, Down Under)
- Married to Medicine
- Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
- Botched: Plastic Surgery Rewind
For local flavour, South African audiences can look forward to the return of Dating #NoFilter South Africa Season 2, among other exclusive programming.
“DStv subscribers that are fans of great reality programming are going to love Bravo Africa, and we’re delighted to be able to give these hugely popular shows a home on our platforms,” said MultiChoice South Africa CEO Byron du Plessis. “The channel will be available on DStv Access as we continue to improve our customer value proposition across our packages.”
Why E! was dropped
E! Entertainment, once a pop culture giant known for E! News, red carpet specials, and True Hollywood Story, has steadily lost relevance. In recent years, its schedule became dominated by repeats and repurposed Bravo content.
The channel’s final flagship show, E! News, was cancelled in July after a short-lived revival, leaving little original programming to hold it together.
Industry watchers say E! has been “dying on the vine” for years, with shrinking content budgets, stale lineups, and dwindling audience interest. Its cancellation also reflects broader restructuring at NBCUniversal, which has been phasing out several of its legacy pay-TV brands.
DStv’s changing strategy
The exit of E! follows a series of bold changes by MultiChoice, including its 2025 price hikes and the launch of a standalone SuperSport package. The broadcaster has also been embroiled in controversy, including the high-profile decision to cut ties with MacG (read more here).
Meanwhile, MultiChoice has doubled down on kids’ entertainment, recently adding DreamWorks, Nickelodeon, and Nick Jr to its Family package — further proof of its strategy to diversify content for every household.
From red carpet specials to Housewives: What this means for viewers
For viewers who grew up watching E! Live from the Red Carpet and celebrity gossip segments, the closure may feel like the end of an era. But for reality TV fans, the arrival of Bravo Africa represents an upgrade.
“We’re delighted to be able to give these hugely popular shows a home on our platforms” – Du Plessis
The red carpet may be rolling away, but the drama of the Housewives is just getting started.
