DStv adding a new channel
Canal+ is launching a new channel on DStv Access, Family, Compact, Compact Plus, and Premium packages on 1 July 2026.
The new channel — Novelas+ —has become the top Canal+ channel in French-speaking Africa in terms of audience size.
“From 1 July, South African telenovela fans will have their own English-speaking version of the channel, where they can tune in for dramas from Latin America, the United States, Portugal, and Turkey,” it said.
Canal+ said that a Portuguese-dubbed version of the channel would also launch in Angola and Mozambique.
Canal+ director for content and general entertainment for English- and Portuguese-speaking Africa, Nomsa Philiso, said telenovelas were popular among African audiences.
“We’re bringing all the passionate flavours of global dramas to their screens, with new episodes every day,” she said.
“Quality is everything, and we’re curating, localising, and scheduling only the best for our viewers, including Turkish telenovelas, which have become a global sensation.
DStv’s licenced operator in South Africa — MultiChoice — said Novelas+ would feature exclusive and iconic telenovelas, with four series set to air daily from Monday to Friday, each with a new episode.
One telenovela that will be available on the channel is Latin American show Avenida Brasil, starring Debora Falabella.
The story follows Falabella, a woman abandoned as a child who is out for revenge. The show also stars Adriana Esteves, who plays an iconic villain.
Other shows include Turkish rom-com Be My Sunshine, a feel-good summer romance starring breakout talents Ayça Ayşin Turan (The Protector) and Alp Navruz.
MultiChoice LicenceCo CEO Willington Ngwepe said the addition of Novelas+ would provide more value for the company’s DStv Access subscribers.
“The launch of Novelas+ comes hot on the heels of music and culture-focused Base Pulse, and 24/7 sporting channel, SportyTV,” he said.
“This is in addition to making all 104 FIFA World Cup 2026 matches available for Bafana fans to enjoy on DStv Access.”
No new value for DStv Premium subscribers
Canal+ has significantly enhanced its channel line-up and content offering for its entry-level DStv Access subscribers, customers on its top-end Premium bouquet are getting the short end of the stick.
The pay-TV broadcaster regularly adds and removes channels from its platform, which it previously attributed to viewership and the commercial value the channels added to its advertising business.
In 2026, it has made only a handful of changes. In January 2026, DStv removed four channels: BET Africa, MTV Base, CBS Reality, and CBS Justice.
All four of these channels were available on Premium and Compact Plus, three were on Compact, two were on Family, and one was on Access.
However, DStv Access customers received some good news regarding content in January 2026 and then again in April.
In January, Canal+ added WWE, Trace Ngoma, and Trace Gospel, which were previously only available on more expensive packages, to the bouquet.
For the first time, Access and Family subscribers have also gotten access to all live FIFA World Cup matches.
Compact Plus and Compact customers have also received additional Showmax content for free, following the service’s shutdown in April 2026.
Premium customers have lost the most channels and not received any additional content, despite being considered DStv’s most valuable subscribers.
| DStv channel and content changes — January to May 2026 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| DStv package | Channels or content added | Channels dropped | Month-to-month prices |
| Access | 128 — WWE 326 — Trace Ngoma 332 — Trace Gospel All FIFA World Cup matches live | 322 — MTV Base | R99 for streaming-only R150 for satellite |
| Family | All FIFA World Cup matches live | 132 — CBS Reality 322 — MTV Base | R299 for streaming-only R339 for satellite |
| Compact | Select Showmax content at no extra charge | 129 — BET Africa 132 — CBS Reality 322 — MTV Base | R399 for streaming-only R479 for satellite |
| Compact Plus | Select Showmax content at no extra charge | 129 — BET Africa 132 — CBS Reality 170 — CBS Justice 322 — MTV Base | R659 for streaming-only R659 for satellite |
| Premium | None | 129 — BET Africa 132 — CBS Reality 170 — CBS Justice 322 — MTV Base | R799 for streaming-only R979 for satellite |
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