MultiChoice SA LicenceCo is set to discontinue four DStv channels as part of an ongoing review aimed at streamlining the platform’s channel portfolio and responding to changing viewing habits.
M-Net Movies 1, kykNET Lekker, Mzansi Bioskop and Mzansi Music will cease broadcasting at 23:59 SAST on 16 September 2026. MultiChoice said content currently carried on the affected channels will remain available through other channels on the platform.
The company has also announced a series of changes to the DStv line-up, including a reorganisation of its SuperSport offering from 19 August 2026.
A LicenceCo spokesperson said the changes are intended to make it easier for subscribers to find and access the sports content they want.
Among the changes will be the launch of SuperSport Football Plus, a dedicated channel for premium football, including selected UEFA Champions League matches and other major competitions.
SuperSport Africa will focus on South African and African sporting events, while SuperSport KickOff will provide additional capacity for football coverage. A new SuperSport Extra 2 channel will also be introduced to provide additional live-sport capacity when several major events take place at the same time.
According to MultiChoice, the restructuring reflects an effort to consolidate content rather than distribute similar programming across a larger number of channels.
“As viewing habits continue to change, MultiChoice is refining the DStv channel line-up to match,” the company said.
The broadcaster added that concentrating content across fewer channels would create a more streamlined line-up and make it easier for subscribers to navigate the platform.
The latest closures mean DStv will have discontinued 11 channels across its various packages during 2026.
Earlier in the year, DStv removed BET Africa, CBS Reality, CBS Justice and MTV Base after Paramount announced the closure of its linear television operations in Africa.
The platform also discontinued Tlnovelas on channel 131 at the end of January. The channel was subsequently replaced by Novelas+ on 1 July, which is available to subscribers on DStv Access, Family, Compact, Compact Plus and Premium packages.
While several channels have been removed, DStv Access has gained access to additional content during the year, including WWE on channel 128, Trace Gospel on channel 322 and Trace Ngoma on channel 326.
MultiChoice also expanded access to live football coverage during the FIFA World Cup, which concluded on 19 July 2026 with Spain winning the tournament. All World Cup matches were made available live to subscribers on DStv Access and higher packages.
The channel changes come as pay-TV operators across Africa continue to reassess traditional linear television portfolios amid shifts in audience behaviour, increased competition from streaming services and the growing importance of simplifying content discovery across increasingly fragmented viewing platforms.
MultiChoice SA LicenceCo operates the South African DStv service under the local broadcasting licences. The entity was separated from the wider MultiChoice Group structure as part of the regulatory arrangements surrounding Groupe Canal+’s acquisition of the group.
Under South African broadcasting regulations, foreign voting rights in local broadcasters are restricted to 20%, while local broadcasting licence holders must also meet ownership requirements relating to historically disadvantaged groups. Canal+ Africa supplies channels to LicenceCo, which operates the DStv offering for South African subscribers.
