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The Digest:

MultiChoice has warned DStv subscribers across Africa, including Nigeria, that they may lose access to 12 major Warner Bros. Discovery channels, including CNN, Discovery Channel, and Cartoon Network, starting January 2026 if a new distribution deal is not reached.

Key Points:
  • 12 channels are at risk, including CNN International, Discovery Channel, TLC, Cartoon Network, and Food Network.
  • The current carriage deal between MultiChoice (now owned by Canal+) and Warner Bros. Discovery expires on December 31, 2025.
  • MultiChoice stated that while negotiations continue, "no agreement has been reached at this stage."
  • The warning comes as MultiChoice has lost 2.8 million active subscribers over two years, with 1.4 million lost in Nigeria alone, partly due to repeated price hikes.
  • This follows the recent loss of Paramount channels (BET Africa, MTV Base) announced earlier.
This potential blackout underscores the fragile nature of pay-TV content, where consumer access is dictated by high-stakes corporate negotiations far removed from the living room.

Sources: Punch Nairametrics

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