by Thinus Ferreira
Canal+'s MultiChoice is dumping M-Net's Mzansi Bioskop, Mzansi Magic, M-Net Movies 1 and kykNET Lekker channels from 16 September from DStv in the latest culling to hit the South African pay-TV operator after Canal+'s takeover that led to drastic cost-cutting and restructuring.
Meanwhile, DStv's SuperSport TV channels are being renamed yet again, in the latest, ever-ongoing name-shuffle.
TVwithThinus made a media query about the abrupt removal of the channels and the axing of the 4 TV channels on DStv was confirmed by MultiChoice.
M-Net added the Mzansi Bioskop (DStv 164) to DStv in September 2013, with the channel getting dumped after 13 years.
It served as a very good funnel and platform for content from emerging South African filmmakers, whose first short films and feature-length films - primarily from alumni from the MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF) - were premiered on Mzansi Bioskop.
Quite bizarre is MultiChoice and M-Net's axing of M-Net Movies 1, leaving it with M-Net Movies 2. There's as yet no answer or explanation as to why DStv will sit with a "M-Net Movies 2" TV channel, but then no "1" on the DStv channel line-up.
It's also unclear whether MultiChoice is going to decrease the add-on price for the M-Net Movies package, since Dstv subscribers who have to pay more to add it, will now lose a channel, and customers who want to sign up for this package will now just buy one channel instead of two.
M-Net Movies 1 (DStv 104) originally launched as M-Net Magic in 1995, and was eventually rebranded as M-Net Movies 1 in 2005. Even this channel went through several name changes and genre changes, after which M-Net reverted it back to being called M-Net Movies 1.
Mzansi Music (DStv 321) is also being cancelled, 14 years after M-Net started the channel in 2012.
M-Net's kykNET Lekker (DStv 148) is also getting dumped on 16 September, just 6 years after it was launched in March 2026 after it was created specifically for DStv Access subscribers who will now see M-Net and kykNET rip this content away from these paying customers.
TV withThinus asked for the specific reasons for each of these channels' termination and when the decision was made to end these channels on 16 September.
"As viewing habits continue to change, MultiChoice is refining the DStv
channel line-up to match," MultiChoice said.
"Rather than spreading similar
content across many channels, we're concentrating on fewer, stronger
channels, giving subscribers a cleaner, easier-to-navigate line-up and a
better viewing experience overall."
Also once again changing, are the names of several SuperSport TV channels on DStv.
According to MultiChoice, "The SuperSport updates introduce clearer, sport-specific channels, making
it even easier for fans to find their favourite sporting
action".
SuperSport Variety 1 (DStv 206) is being renamed from 18 August as SuperSport Football Plus, which will now become a "dedicated home for premium football, featuring selected UEFA Champions League action and other major competitions".
SuperSport Variety 2 (DStv 207) is being renamed as SuperSport KickOff for so-called "overflow football events", while SuperSport Variety 3 (DStv 208) is being renamed SuperSport Africa "showcasing the best of South African and African sport".
MultiChoice is changing SuperSport Variety 4 (DStv 209) to SuperSport Action, while SuperSport Action (DStv 210) is getting rebranded as SuperSport Extra for "premium live sport whenever multiple major events take place simultaneously".
There's been no press release from SuperSport yet about any of these name and branding changes.
