DStv shutting down channel
South African pay-TV broadcaster DStv has started notifying viewers that it will be closing its Cine Magic channel, which falls under its M-Net business, at the end of the month.
The channel is currently available on DStv’s most affordable EasyView bouquet. According to a notice that recently appeared on the channel’s programme schedule bar, it will close on 30 June 2026.
Cine Magic channel debuted on DStv EasyView in November 2022. The 12-hour movie channel offers a mix of African and international films in a wide range of languages.
Its launch came shortly after DStv also added Magic Showcase to EasyView, which appears to have been quietly removed as well.
That channel should not be confused with Africa Magic Showcase, which is only available on more expensive DStv packages on channel 151.
At the announcement of the CineMagic and Magic Showcase launches, then M-Net CEO Nomsa Philiso said the channels would enable all DStv subscribers to enjoy award-winning local shows and movies.
MyBroadband asked DStv onwer Canal+ why the channel was being closed, but it did not immediately respond to our queries. Its response will be added once received.
Canal+ appears to have deprioritised the EasyView bouquet with recent changes to the broadcaster’s website.
Earlier this month, MyBroadband discovered that EasyView was no longer available to buy on the DStv website, with the most affordable offering being the Access bouquet.
Selecting “Get DStv” only presented the five more expensive bouquets, while searching for EasyView in the product catalogue also gave no hits for the product.
Canal+ told MyBroadband its online offering was aligned with the DStv Stream packages, which did not include the EasyView option.
However, that did not explain why DStv still allowed users to subscribe to its other satellite plans via its website.
People who want to subscribe to EasyView must take up the package through DStv’s call centre or WhatsApp support channel.
Following the closure of the Cine Magic channel, the EasyView bouquet will have 35 channels in South Africa.
New channel for everyone but EasyView
Subscribers on DStv Access, Family, Compact, Compact Plus, and Premium can at least look forward to one new channel next month.
Earlier this week, DStv announced it was adding Canal+’s top channel in French-speaking Africa in terms of audience size — Novelas+ — to these packages.
It will replace the Tlnovelas channel that was removed from DStv channel 133 at the end of January 2026.
In South Africa, the channel’s shows will be dubbed in English, while Portuguese dubbing will be available on DStv’s packages in Angola and Mozambique.
Philiso, who moved from M-Net head to Canal+ director for content and general entertainment for English- and Portuguese-speaking Africa, 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.”
The table below summarises the changes to DStv’s channel line-up and content offering in the year-to-date.
| DStv channel and content changes — January to July 2026 | ||
|---|---|---|
| DStv package | Channels or content added | Channels or content dropped |
| EasyView | None | 139 — Cine Magic (30 June) |
| Access | 128 — WWE 133 — Novelas+ (1 July) 326 — Trace Ngoma 332 — Trace Gospel All FIFA World Cup matches live | 322 — MTV Base 133 — Tlnovelas |
| Family | 133 — Novelas+ (1 July) All FIFA World Cup matches live | 132 — CBS Reality 133 — Tlnovelas 322 — MTV Base |
| Compact | 133 — Novelas+ (1 July) Select Showmax content at no extra charge | 129 — BET Africa 132 — CBS Reality 133 — Tlnovelas 322 — MTV Base |
| Compact Plus | 133 — Novelas+ (1 July) Select Showmax content at no extra charge | 129 — BET Africa 132 — CBS Reality 133 — Tlnovelas 170 — CBS Justice 322 — MTV Base |
| Premium | 133 — Novelas+ (1 July) | 129 — BET Africa 132 — CBS Reality 133 — Tlnovelas 170 — CBS Justice 322 — MTV Base |
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