PressPulse’s latest media sentiment analysis indicates that MultiChoice has experienced severe reputational setbacks following the acquisition by Canal+.
Historically, MultiChoice has faced criticism for the pricing of its DStv service, which maintained a 20-year monopoly in the South African pay-TV landscape. Despite complaints, many customers remained loyal due to the outstanding SuperSport package and high-quality entertainment options.
The company’s technology was advanced, service quality was commendable, and it played a pivotal role in producing iconic South African series, documentaries, and sports sponsorships.
Over the years, media coverage surrounding MultiChoice and DStv oscillated between positive highlights and negative feedback concerning pricing. However, sentiment turned sour after Canal+ acquired MultiChoice and subsequently delisted the company from the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.
Since then, the DStv service has reportedly diluted its offerings, with many labelling it as the most aggressive content reduction in years. A significant setback occurred in January 2026, when four third-party channels were removed following the shutdown of Paramount Africa.
Additionally, SuperSport’s absence of coverage for the 2026 Winter Olympics shocked many. The service also cut niche sporting events, such as the World Darts Championship. Reports suggest that production houses for channels like kykNET and Mzansi Magic have encountered payment delays, with local contracts reportedly waiting on approvals in Paris.
These challenges have been attributed to Canal+’s cost-cutting initiatives as part of its efforts to revamp MultiChoice. As part of the South African Competition Tribunal’s regulatory approval, Canal+ committed to a three-year staff freeze, meaning it must seek alternative methods to achieve cost reductions, impacting SuperSport and DStv channels.
PressPulse’s recent report highlights a dramatic decline in MultiChoice’s reputation over the past three months. The platform specialises in media sentiment tracking, utilising a custom AI system to analyse sentiment across South Africa’s leading business publications.
Sentiment rankings reflect companies’ success in garnering positive media exposure, with a sentiment score assigned based on the volume of positive, neutral, or negative articles published and the influence of these publications. A positive score indicates favourable coverage, while a negative score denotes adverse exposure, with larger scores indicating greater impact.
In its findings, PressPulse revealed that MultiChoice’s sentiment score had plummeted to -21, an unprecedented low for the company. In contrast, Netflix continues to maintain a stable positive sentiment score—a typical outcome for a successful entertainment entity.
