Cell C's struggling Cell C black subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) service has lost another 2 TV channels from its line-up although subscribers have to keep paying the same, with yet another 2 channels getting dropped from the service at the end of this month.
LFC TV, the TV channel from Liverpool FC, as well as Chelsea TV have been axed from Cell C black since May and June, without Cell C saying a word. It's not clear whether Cell C dropped the channels or whether LFC TV and Chelsea TV pulled their channels.
Another two channels that have been offered on Cell C black - Barca TV and Real Madrid TV are also going black on Cell C black at the end of July.
Cell C black had not notified the media about the ongoing loss of TV channels, which follows after Cell C black lost other channels earlier in 2019.
In February the Sony Channel, Sony Max, the kids channel POP, as well as True Movies disappeared from Cell C after Sony Pictures Television Networks decided to abruptly remove its linear Sony Channel and Sony MAX channels from South Africa.
Cell C black hasn't replaced any of these channels, although Cell C black subscribers have to pay the same amount of money in subscription fees.
Meanwhile Douglas Craigie Stevenson, Cell C CEO, in an open letter to investors, said that Cell C had begun a round of cost cuts, has frozen hiring and is reviewing multiple contracts.
"We have implemented significant austerity measures and have cut costs which do not contribute to revenue generating activities, including a review of all contracts to ensure alignment with business priorities and a hiring freeze," Douglas Craigie Stevenson wrote.
"I want to emphasise that Cell C is strategically positioning itself and we are using our best efforts to be a strong participant in the industry, I firmly believe we are on the right track."
Cell C has not only struggled to compete with Vodacom and MTN as a cellular service, but also in the SVOD space against Showmax from MultiChoice's Connected Video division, Netflix South Africa, Amazon Prime Video and a growing number of other video streaming services.
