MultiChoice is expanding DStv’s sports offering with four new SuperSport channels, but the move will also see four existing channels, including three dedicated to local content, disappear from the platform next month.
The new channels are scheduled to launch on August 19, giving sports fans more options to follow live events, particularly on days when major competitions are being played at the same time.
The additions are SuperSport Football Plus, SuperSport Africa, SuperSport KickOff and SuperSport Extra 2. Brandspur Banking News Desk reports that the changes come as MultiChoice reshapes its channel line-up in response to changing viewing habits.
For football fans, SuperSport Football Plus is likely to be the biggest attraction. The channel will carry premium football content, including selected UEFA Champions League matches.
SuperSport Africa will focus on sporting events from South Africa and other parts of the continent, while SuperSport KickOff is intended for football fixtures that begin simultaneously. SuperSport Extra 2 will provide additional coverage when major sporting events clash.
But while sports viewers are gaining more channels, some subscribers will lose familiar programming.
Four channels, M-Net Movies 1, kykNET Lekker, Mzansi Bioskop and Mzansi Music, are due to stop broadcasting on September 16.
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The decision is particularly significant for viewers who rely on the affected channels for locally produced entertainment. Mzansi Bioskop, for instance, showcases South African films and provides an avenue for emerging filmmakers to reach television audiences.
Mzansi Music similarly carries local music programming, while kykNET Lekker offers Afrikaans content to DStv Access subscribers. Their closure means viewers on the entry-level package will feel part of the impact directly.
MultiChoice said subscribers will still be able to find content from the closing channels through other DStv offerings. The company also described the changes as an attempt to streamline its portfolio and reduce duplication.
The latest reshuffle follows other channel closures earlier this year after Paramount decided to wind down its linear television operations across Africa. BET Africa, CBS Reality, CBS Justice and MTV Base were among the channels affected.
For subscribers, the changes underline how quickly traditional pay-TV viewing is evolving. More people now have access to streaming platforms and on-demand entertainment, while broadcasters are increasingly concentrating their resources on content that can attract viewers at particular times.
MultiChoice has, however, confirmed that it will not increase DStv subscription prices this year despite the changes to its channel line-up.
The company is also operating under local-content commitments linked to Canal+’s acquisition of MultiChoice last year. Among the conditions was a commitment to local content production and support for small black-owned suppliers.
Canal+ Africa CEO David Mignot previously warned that cutting investment in local content would be a major strategic mistake, while pointing to a commitment of about €100 million to accelerate local production.
The Competition Commission has said it is monitoring compliance with those commitments.
For DStv households, the changes present a mixed picture. Sports lovers are set to get more live coverage, but viewers who have built their routines around local films, music and other programming will have fewer dedicated channels to choose from.
