DStv is bracing for renewed subscriber backlash following its inability to secure a fresh distribution agreement with Warner Bros.
Discovery (WBD), a development that could see several popular channels pulled from its platform.
The pay-TV giant has begun notifying customers via text message that its existing carriage deal with WBD will lapse on December 31, 2025.
While negotiations are ongoing, the company admitted that talks have yet to yield a resolution.
If the impasse persists, subscribers will lose access to key 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 development adds to the challenges facing MultiChoice, which was recently acquired by Canal+ and has been battling sustained customer losses across its markets.
The broadcaster shed 2.8 million active linear subscribers over the last two financial years, with 1.2 million lost in 2025 alone — representing an eight per cent decline across South Africa and the rest of the continent.
Nigeria has been one of the hardest-hit markets, with MultiChoice losing 1.4 million subscribers in two years, a trend widely linked to repeated subscription price increases.