DStv may face a new wave of subscriber departures following its failure to reach a fresh distribution agreement with Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD).
The pay-TV operator, anticipating potential backlash, has alerted subscribers via text message that its current carriage deal with WBD will expire on December 31, 2025. The firm said negotiations for a renewal are ongoing but have not produced an agreement.
If talks fail , DStv viewers will lose access to several major Discovery (WBD) channels from January 1, 2026, including CNN, Discovery Channel, TLC and Cartoon Network.
“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 setback comes at a challenging period for MultiChoice, which was recently acquired by Canal+ and continues to struggle with declining customer numbers.
The broadcaster has lost 2.8 million active linear subscribers in the last two financial years, including 1.2 million in 2025 alone—a drop of 8 percent across South Africa and other African markets.
In Nigeria, MultiChoice has shed 1.4 million subscribers over the past two years, largely due to repeated subscription price hikes.