DStv offering may shrink as Canal+ targets major cost savings

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UPDATE: In the hours since we published this article, MultiChoice has announced its decision to discontinue the Showmax service.

The African streaming service assured subscribers that there would be no immediate interruption.

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DStv subscribers, particularly those questioning whether to keep their subscriptions, may soon face fewer channels and less content as parent company Canal+ plans major cost-cutting measures.

Independent TV critic and journalist Thinus Ferreira says viewers should be worried as the broadcaster’s offering could shrink in the coming years.

“Viewers should be worried,” Ferreira said.

Canal+ planning major cost savings

Canal+, the new owner of MultiChoice, is reportedly planning to cut about €400 million in costs following its acquisition.

Ferreira said those savings are expected to include cuts to content.

“That’s going to include content cuts, definitely,” he said.

Ferreira said the scale of content currently available on DStv is unlikely to remain the same.

“The amount or the volume of content that you’ve been seeing until now is not going to be that amount or that volume three years from now.”

Channel losses and possible Showmax shutdown

Ferreira said DStv has already lost two TV channels this year, and further changes could follow.

He also said some are reporting that streaming service Showmax could be shut down.

“I’ve also heard very reliably that Showmax is going to be shut down. That announcement could come as soon as later today.”

Sports and global content are also at risk

Sport remains one of the main reasons many South Africans keep their DStv subscriptions.

But Ferreira warned that sports and other content could also be affected by cuts.

RELATED: Watching sport in SA could soon shift away from SuperSport

Concerns have already been raised after DStv failed to secure rights to the Winter Olympics, not even highlights.

He also said South Africans have already lost access to some international content.

“South Africans no longer have any access to any HBO or Warner content because M-Net and Canal+ said M-Net can’t find that contract to continue that.”

That means even subscribers willing to pay may no longer be able to watch certain shows.

“You can no longer watch things like Game of Thrones,” Ferreira said.

Questions over the future value of DStv

For many subscribers, DStv has traditionally offered a wide range of sports and entertainment through a single subscription.

But Ferreira said that the model may be changing.

As content rights shift and cuts are implemented, DStv subscribers, especially those who keep the service mainly for sport, could soon face fewer viewing options than before.

For more information, listen to Ferreira using the audio player below: