By Anamati Inyang
January 2, 2025
DStv subscribers in South Africa have received a major boost, following a new multi-year, multi-territory agreement between Canal+, owner of MultiChoice, and Warner Bros. Discovery.
Under the expanded deal, Canal+ will continue the distribution of HBO Max while renewing carriage for several Warner Bros. Discovery thematic channels across parts of Africa and Europe.
The agreement ends weeks of uncertainty over 12 popular DStv channels that were at risk of going off air at midnight without a renewed carriage arrangement.
Canal+ described the deal as a significant step in strengthening its long-standing partnership with Warner Bros.
Discovery, noting that it covers entertainment, kids, news and documentary content across multiple markets.
HBO, a flagship Warner Bros. brand and a historic partner of MultiChoice, remains central to the agreement.
The network is home to globally acclaimed series 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.
Warner Bros. Discovery also owns DC Comics, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter film franchise and New Line Cinema, known for The Lord of the Rings films. The company has recently been linked to acquisition talks involving Netflix and Paramount Skydance, with reports suggesting it may turn down Paramount’s offer.
Amid these high-level corporate developments, Canal+ and Warner Bros. Discovery were finalizing a replacement for an agreement previously held with MultiChoice, which was due to expire at midnight.
Both companies said the new deal builds on agreements concluded in France in 2024, including the renewal of the exclusive pay-TV window for Warner Bros. Pictures films, allowing them to appear on pay television just six months after cinema release.
The agreement also provides for the integration of HBO Max into select Canal+ packages and confirms the renewal of distribution rights for 22 thematic channels and four free-to-air channels.
Canal+ confirmed that 12 Warner Bros.
Discovery thematic channels will continue to be distributed across MultiChoice Group territories, with some channels offered on an exclusive basis.
The channels include CNN International and Cartoon Network, which will remain exclusive to South Africa while being available non-exclusively in other territories. Cartoon Network Porto will be exclusive to Angola and Mozambique.
Other non-exclusive channels include Cartoonito, Discovery Channel, Discovery Family, Real Time, Investigation Discovery, TLC, HGTV, Travel Channel, TNT Africa and Food Network.
According to Canal+, the agreement strengthens its content lineup across African markets, particularly in entertainment, children’s programming, news and documentaries.
Four Paramount-Linked Channels to Exit DStv,
despite the renewed Warner Bros.
Discovery deal, DStv will still lose four channels linked to Paramount.
Paramount Africa is set to shut down operations at the end of December 2025, ending its presence in South Africa.
The company currently reaches more than 100 million viewers across 52 African territories through a portfolio of 10 television channels, including BET, Comedy Central, MTV, MTV Base, Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., NickToons and VH1 Classic.
MultiChoice earlier confirmed that four channels from Paramount Africa and its CBS AMC Network partnership will leave DStv and GOtv. BET Africa and MTV Base will be discontinued at 09:00 on January 1, 2026, while CBS Reality and CBS Justice will shut down on December 31, 2025.
MultiChoice expressed appreciation to Paramount and CBS AMC for their years of partnership, even as subscribers brace for the loss of the affected channels.
