by Thinus Ferreira
The launch of Disney+ in South Africa expected around June 2022 won't bedevil DStv, with subscribers who won't abruptly lose access in the middle of next year to the linear version of the Disney Channel (DStv 303) or Disney Junior (DStv 309).
The sought-after kids pay-TV channels will remain on DStv for another two years with MultiChoice that has sewn up the channel carriage agreement rights for Disney's channels to remain on DStv until 2024.
Hidden away in the small print of MultiChoice's 6-month financial results until the end of September 2021 is relief for DStv subscribers who have been fearing that they might very well lose the Disney Channel (DStv 303), Disney Junior (DStv 309) or National Geographic (DStv 181) when The Walt Disney Company launches its Disney+ video streaming service from around June 2022 in South Africa.
Disney's linear pay-TV channels were culled almost everywhere else in the world where Disney+ launched, for instance the United Kingdom, as Disney focuses on bolstering its own streaming platform's offering to compete against Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.
This has forced traditional pay-TV subscribers who want access to Disney's treasure chest of Marvel Studios, Star Wars and other content to switch away from traditional pay-TV to streaming and to subscribe to Disney+.
Luckily DStv Premium subscribers in South Africa won't abruptly lose access to Disney's channels next year - and not for a few years.
"On the international content front, channel agreements with Disney (including the kids and National Geographic channels) were secured to 2024," MultiChoice says.
While Disney ended Disney XD and recently also the FOX channel, it means that South Africans will be able to continue to access the Disney Channel, Disney Junior and National Geographic next year through both Disney+ as a streaming platform, as well as traditional satellite pay-TV.
It's also important to note MultiChoice's use of plural in its statement: "kids" and "channels". MultiChoice signals that it will keep the Disney Channel and Disney Junior as "kids" "channels".
