DStv has cut 16 channels this year. Is yours on the list?

DStv will have switched off 16 channels in South Africa between 1 January and 11 November 2026, with preschool channel JimJam the next to go on 11 November, MyBroadband reports.

The latest cuts landed on 31 October, when five channels left the R280 Add Indian add-on. If a channel you used to watch has gone dark this year, it is almost certainly on the list below.

Which DStv channels were removed in 2026?

Sources: MyBroadband, MyBroadband on the Indian channels, IOL, Broadcast Media Africa.

Why is JimJam leaving DStv?

MultiChoice hasn't given a specific reason. It said only that it keeps reviewing and refining its channel line-up, according to Broadcast Media Africa. JimJam joined DStv in November 2013 and is the last AMC Networks International channel on the platform, The South African reports.

Parents are being pointed to PlayRoom, Cartoonito, CBeebies and DreamWorks instead, depending on the package (MyBroadband).

Did the Mzansi Magic and M-Net Movies shows disappear too?

Not all of them. MultiChoice said content from the local channels it closed in September would show up on other channels under the new packages (MyBroadband). Mzansi Magic and Bioskop content now sits on Wethu+, a combined channel that also carries Mzansi Wethu and PSL football. We broke down where every old movie channel went when the change happened.

What's left on the Add Indian package?

Three channels: Star Plus (453), Star Vijay (455) and Colors TV (456), MyBroadband reports. MultiChoice told customers in a 30 September email that it was "focusing on fewer, stronger channels", and said it would share details of a reduced-price offer, The South African reported. Check your DStv account or app for the current add-on price before your next debit.

Why is DStv cutting so many channels?

Cost. MultiChoice has been cutting costs for more than five years, and subscription income in South Africa is falling. Canal+, which bought MultiChoice, reported on 22 October 2026 that lower DStv subscription revenue in South Africa dragged down like-for-like revenue at MultiChoice Group for the first nine months of the year (MyBroadband).

Some cuts came from partners. The four Paramount channels went when Paramount Africa closed at the end of December 2025. A last-minute deal at the start of the year kept 12 Warner Bros. Discovery channels, including CNN, Cartoon Network, Discovery and TLC, but DStv lost HBO shows such as House of the Dragon (MyBroadband).

What can you do if your channel is gone?

Compare your package against what you actually watch. If a removed channel was the main reason you paid for a tier or add-on, you may be able to drop to a cheaper option. Our guide to DStv's new packages and prices lists what each one costs.