DStv viewers are set to lose access to a dozen channels at the end of the year. MultiChoice has confirmed that 12 channels, including major names like CNN International and the Discovery Channel, are being removed from its service on 31 December 2025. This decision follows the company’s takeover by the French media giant Canal+ Group.
Subscribers were informed of the change via a push notification on the DStv app on Tuesday, 2 December 2025. The message listed the channels that would no longer be available.
“Please be advised that Discovery Channel, TLC Africa, Discovery Family, Real Time, TNT Africa, Food Network, Travel Channel, Investigation Discovery (Discovery ID), Cartoon Network, Cartoonito and CNN International will not be available from 31 Dec.”
The notification did not include HGTV, but it is confirmed to be part of the group of twelve. The announcement came after MultiChoice stated it had reached an impasse in talks with Warner Bros Discovery, the owner of all the affected channels.
The Driving Force: Canal+ Cost-Cutting
The primary reason for the channel removals is a strategic shift under new ownership. Canal+ Group completed its acquisition of MultiChoice in September 2025. The new parent company has publicly stated its focus is on reducing costs at the South African pay-TV operator.
The expiring carriage deal with Warner Bros Discovery presented a key opportunity. Analysis suggests Canal+ reviewed the value of the existing channel bundle and found it wanting. Hilton Tarrant, writing on 3 December 2025, explained the likely calculation.
“The new owners would’ve done their sums and calculated very clearly and neatly or exactly how much they were prepared to pay to Warner, and for what, under a new agreement.”
This move highlights the industry practice of “channel bundling,” where a broadcaster must pay for a package of channels to secure the most popular ones. Canal+, which carries fewer Warner channels in its home French market, appears unwilling to renew the previous bundle on the same terms.
What Channels Are Going And What Happens Next?
The confirmed list of channels being removed is:
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Discovery Channel (121)
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TLC (135)
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Discovery Family (136)
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TNT Africa (137)
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Real Time (155)
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Investigation Discovery (171)
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Food Network (175)
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HGTV (177)
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Travel Channel (179)
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Cartoon Network (301)
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Cartoonito (302)
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CNN International (401)
The impact is greatest for Premium subscribers, who pay over R1,000 monthly. While the removal is confirmed for 31 December, the dynamic could change. Canal+ may be using this as a tough negotiation tactic. A last-minute agreement before the deadline could theoretically restore some or all channels.
The situation is further complicated by the uncertain future of Warner Bros Discovery itself. The company put itself up for sale in 2025. A Bloomberg report indicates suitors like Paramount, Comcast, and Netflix are primarily interested in its studio and streaming assets, not necessarily its linear TV channels.