Publications
- DStv subscribers will not abruptly lose access to the Disney Channel or Disney Junior when Disney+ launches in South Africa in 2022.
- The sought-after kids pay-TV channels will remain on DStv for another two years, as Multichoice's agreement with Disney runs until 2024.
- South Africans will have access to the Disney Channel, Disney Junior and National Geographic next year through both Disney+ as a streaming platform, as well as traditional satellite pay-TV.
The launch of Disney+ in South Africa expected around June 2022 won't bedevil DStv, and subscribers will not abruptly lose access to the linear version of the Disney Channel or Disney Junior.
The sought-after kids pay-TV channels will remain on DStv for another two years, as Multichoice's agreement with Disney runs until 2024.
Hidden away in the small print of MultiChoice's 6-month financial results is relief for DStv subscribers who have been fearing that they may very well lose the Disney Channel (DStv 303), Disney Junior (DStv 309) or National Geographic (DStv 181) when The Walt Disney Company launches its Disney+ video streaming service from around June 2022 in South Africa.
Disney's linear pay-TV channels were culled almost everywhere else in the world where Disney+ launched, for instance, the United Kingdom, as Disney focuses on bolstering its own streaming platform's offering to compete against Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.
This has forced traditional pay-TV subscribers who want access to Disney's treasure chest of Marvel Studios, Star Wars and other content to switch away from traditional pay-TV to streaming and to subscribe to Disney+.
Luckily DStv Premium subscribers in South Africa won't abruptly lose access to Disney's channels next year - and not for a few years.
"On the international content front, channel agreements with Disney (including the kids and National Geographic channels) were secured to 2024," MultiChoice says.
While Disney ended Disney XD and recently also the FOX channel, South Africans will have access to the Disney Channel, Disney Junior and National Geographic next year through both Disney+ as a streaming platform, as well as traditional satellite pay-TV.
