DStv subscribers could lose access to 12 major Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) channels — including CNN, Discovery Channel, TLC, and Cartoon Network — starting January 1, 2026, if MultiChoice and WBD fail to finalise a new distribution agreement.
MultiChoice, now owned by Canal+, warned customers on Monday via text messages that its current carriage deal with WBD expires on December 31, 2025, and negotiations to renew the contract have not yet produced a resolution. “While discussions between the parties continue, no agreement has been reached at this stage. If this remains unchanged, several Warner Bros. Discovery channels may no longer be available on DStv from 1 January 2026,” MultiChoice said.
The 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. This development comes at a challenging time for MultiChoice, which has suffered significant subscriber losses in recent years.
The broadcaster has lost 2.8 million active linear subscribers over the past two financial years, including 1.2 million customers in 2025 alone — an 8 per cent decline shared between South Africa and the rest of Africa.In Nigeria, according to Nairametrics, MultiChoice has lost 1.4 million subscribers over the last two years, largely due to repeated subscription price hikes.
The company is also set to lose additional content in the coming months. Paramount Africa will discontinue BET Africa and MTV Base from January 1, 2026, while CBS Reality and CBS Justice will cease operations on December 31, 2025.
Source: https://punchng.com/
