DStv adds 4 SuperSport channels, cuts 9 others in 2026 lineup shake-up
By Aboki Forex —
MultiChoice is overhauling its DStv and GOtv channel lineups in 2026, adding new sports and entertainment options while cutting nine channels it says are becoming redundant or less strategically valuable. The pay-TV operator has also confirmed that DStv subscription prices will not increase in 2026, breaking with its annual tradition of price rises.
New sports channels coming
MultiChoice has added SportyTV, a round-the-clock sports channel, to selected packages on both platforms. DStv subscribers on the Yanga package can find it on channel 236, while GOtv customers on the Jolli package can access it on channel 58. The channel covers live football, basketball, and combat sports, in addition to news, analysis and match highlights.
From August 19, 2026, MultiChoice will launch four additional SuperSport channels on DStv. SuperSport Football Plus will carry premium football content, including selected UEFA Champions League matches. SuperSport Africa will focus on sporting events from South Africa and the rest of the continent. SuperSport KickOff is designed to handle football fixtures that kick off simultaneously, while SuperSport Extra 2 will provide overflow coverage when major events clash on the same date.
Nine channels removed
MultiChoice has already cut four channels earlier in 2026 following Paramount's decision to wind down its linear television operations across Africa. BET Africa, CBS Reality, CBS Justice, and MTV Base were all affected by that move.
Four more channels are scheduled to stop broadcasting on September 16, 2026: M-Net Movies 1, kykNET Lekker, Mzansi Bioskop, and Mzansi Music. MultiChoice said content previously carried on those channels would remain accessible through other DStv offerings, and described the closures as part of a broader effort to reduce duplication and streamline its channel portfolio in response to shifting viewer habits.
On the entertainment side, Novelas+ launched on DStv on July 1, 2026, replacing Tlnovelas, which had been taken off channel 131 at the end of January. The replacement is available across the Access, Family, Compact, Compact Plus, and Premium packages.
Prices frozen despite streaming pressure
Despite the channel adjustments, MultiChoice confirmed that DStv subscription prices will not increase in 2026, departing from its usual practice of annual price reviews. The company said the decision is aimed at holding on to subscribers as competition from streaming services such as Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon Prime Video continues to grow.
In a related development, DStv customers across Africa will continue to have access to 12 popular television channels after Canal+ reached a new distribution agreement with Warner Bros. Discovery, preventing their removal from the pay-TV platform. The channels, including CNN International and Cartoon Network, had initially been scheduled to leave DStv on January 1, 2026, following extended negotiations between the two companies.
For Nigerian DStv subscribers, the key takeaway is simple: prices stay flat in 2026 while the platform pushes more live sports content. But the removal of well-known entertainment channels like BET Africa and MTV Base means viewers will need to check their packages as MultiChoice continues to trim its lineup.