Canal+ confirms HBO shows pulled from DStv Premium as licensing talks stall
By Aboki Forex —
DStv Premium subscribers across Africa can no longer watch several of HBO's biggest titles on M-Net and Catch Up. The change follows a major content shake-up linked to licensing agreements between Canal+-owned MultiChoice and Warner Bros. Discovery.
Hit series and other first-run Warner Bros. Discovery productions have disappeared from DStv's live channels and on-demand library. Many subscribers are frustrated over the shrinking value of the premium package.
The changes were first reported by veteran broadcasting journalist Thinus Ferreira for News24, citing an insider at M-Net.
When asked to clarify the disappearance of HBO programming, MultiChoice's parent company, Groupe Canal+, confirmed that the availability of certain shows is now determined by ongoing licensing negotiations.
'The availability of individual series is subject to ongoing studio licensing and distribution agreements,' the company said.
It added that there was 'nothing further to announce at this stage' and that any future developments would be communicated through its official channels.
The statement stopped short of confirming whether the removal is permanent. But the absence of HBO's flagship titles marks a significant shift for DStv, which has been the primary home of HBO programming across Africa for more than a decade.
HBO has been closely associated with M-Net for years. The broadcaster secured a landmark agreement in 2014 that made it the exclusive destination for many of HBO's award-winning series across the continent.
The latest development raises fresh questions about the future of that long-standing partnership. This comes after Canal+ completed its takeover of MultiChoice in September 2025.
Industry observers believe the current licensing arrangements may no longer include rights to premium HBO originals, despite a broader distribution agreement remaining in place.