by Thinus Ferreira
DStv without Disney ... or FOX? It's suddenly not that inconceivable an idea anymore and could be an indicator of what is to come for South African pay-TV subscribers after Disney announced that it's removing almost all of its Disney-owned TV channels in Asia to keep the content for its Disney Plus video streaming service.
The Walt Disney Company will shut down over a dozen and a half of its linear TV channels on the platforms of pay-TV operators in Southeast Asia and Hong Kong from 1 October with only National Geographic and Nat Geo WILD that will remain, along with a few Fox movie channels.
Over 18 TV channels - from FOX and FOX Life to FOX Crime, the Disney Channel and Disney Junior, along with many more - will go dark as Disney says shutting down its linear pay-TV channels is part of its "global effort to pivot towards a direct-to-consumer first model and further grow our streaming services".
Disney has also already removed channels in the United Kingdom from pay-TV platforms like SKY there.
Disney has not launched its Disney Plus video streaming service in South Africa or anywhere else in the sub-Saharan African market and has been silent in its projected rollout plans about the continent.
However, since Disney is now saying that taking away its linear TV channels from traditional pay-TVoperators is part of a "global effort" to consolidate content under its own subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) plan, it could signal what could be happening with the Mouse House channels in South Africa if Disney Plus were to launch in the country at some point in the future.
"As part of The Walt Disney Company's global effort to pivot towards a direct-to-consumer first model and further grow our streaming services, the company is consolidating its Media Networks business primarily in Southeast Asia and Hong Kong. These efforts will help us align our resources more efficiently and effectively to current and future business needs," Disney said in a statement about shutting down its linear TV channels.
If Disney were to do the same, if Disney Plus were to launch in South Africa and across Africa, the loss of channels like Disney Channel and FOX would have a disruptive influence on pay-TV operators like MultiChoice's DStv and StarTimes' StarSat with both currently carrying several Disney Media Networks TV channels as part of multi-year deals.
Existing, multiyear content contracts
between MultiChoice and M-Net, with respectively The Walt Disney Company and
WarnerMedia, are likely the main reason why Disney+ and HBO Max have not been
launched or earmarked with rollout dates in Africa and why South African
consumers can't access these video streaming services.
About Disney+'s delayed launch in Africa, and if the company is worried about consumers pirate viewing its streamer's content, Walt Disney Africa says that "at this stage we have no news to share regarding Disney+, including its release in South Africa and the continent".
