Millions of DStv subscribers across Africa, including a significant base in Nigeria, can breathe a sigh of relief. A last-minute distribution agreement has been secured, ensuring that 12 key television channels will remain on the platform.
Deal Averts Major Content Blackout
The channels, which include major brands like CNN International, Cartoon Network, and Discovery Channel, were on the brink of being removed from DStv. This was after parent company Canal+ and content provider Warner Bros. Discovery faced stalled renewal talks late in 2025.
The removal was scheduled to take effect from January 1, 2026, potentially affecting viewers' access to news, entertainment, and children's programming. Subscribers had been receiving on-screen alerts and email notifications since December 1, 2025, warning of the possible loss.
However, on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, the two media giants announced a new multi-year, multi-territory agreement. This deal not only averts the immediate crisis but also strengthens their long-standing partnership.
What Channels Are Saved and What the Deal Covers
The agreement secures the continued broadcast of a dozen popular channels on the DStv platform. The full list of channels retained includes:
- CNN International
- Cartoon Network
- Discovery Channel
- TLC
- Investigation Discovery
- Food Network
- HGTV
- TNT Africa
- Travel Channel
- Cartoonito
- Discovery Family
- Real Time
The deal covers several markets where Canal+ operates, including South Africa, the rest of Africa, and parts of Europe. For African viewers, this is crucial news. Data indicates that MultiChoice, now owned by Canal+, serves approximately 14.5 million subscribers across the continent. Roughly 7.5 million of these subscribers are in Nigeria and other African markets, with about 7 million in South Africa.
Furthermore, the agreement includes plans to expand the HBO Max streaming service into two additional countries and renews channels like Cartoon Network and CNN International in European nations such as Romania, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia.
DStv Announces New Upgrade Offer for Subscribers
In related news, DStv Nigeria is rolling out a promotional offer aimed at rewarding and attracting subscribers. From January 1 to February 28, 2026, customers who pay for their package in full will receive an automatic upgrade to the next subscription tier.
This offer applies to active, reconnecting, and new subscribers. For example:
- Paying for DStv Access grants DStv Family.
- Paying for DStv Family upgrades to DStv Compact.
- Paying for DStv Compact moves to DStv Compact Plus.
- Paying for DStv Compact Plus upgrades to DStv Premium.
This move is seen as a strategy to boost customer loyalty and acquisition for MultiChoice, which continues to navigate challenges with subscriber retention in a competitive market.
The successful channel renewal deal represents a significant win for DStv, preventing one of its most substantial potential content losses in recent years and ensuring continuity for its vast subscriber base in Nigeria and beyond.
