Broadcasting
MultiChoice Pledges Support to Nollywood
MultiChoice, Africa’s leading digital pay television entertainment operators through its premium entertainment channel; M-Net, has made extensive investments in the development of original African programming as well as currently showcasing the best African content across the continent.
Disclosing this at a brunch for Nigerian nominees of the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards (AMVCA), John Ugbe, managing director, MultiChoice Nigeria, said that over the years, M-Net has developed the programmes and channels on the DStv platform.
“M-Net has grown its local content offering to eight quality premium channels, accessible in over 50 countries on the continent through DStv and GOtv services” He remarked.
Ugbe, who explained that MultiChoice has continued to prioritise its investment in promoting local film and television entertainment while collaborating with talented local film makers in creating authentic African stories, stated that MultiChoice together with M-Net/AfricaMagic has changed the face of African entertainment by promoting and harnessing quality productions.
In an effort to enjoy these quality productions, Ugbe said MultiChoice which has maintained the lead in cutting-edge technology in television viewing would soon launch the DStv Explora BoxOffice.
“We acknowledge the role our subscribers have played in making M-Net/Africa Magic channels a success, this is why we believe that the DStv Explora BoxOffice will provide a window for our subscribers to rent new Nigerian and international movies from the comfort of their homes” John declared.
The first edition of AMVCA which held in March 2013 provided movie and film audiences with a voice to say what they like and to honour the roles they have played in making the African film and television industry what it is today.
Speaking on the upcoming AMVCA awards and the significant investment made by MultiChoice in the development of skills and talent in television broadcast in the continent, Mrs. Biola Alabi, managing director of M-Net Africa, said “Our mission at AfricaMagic is a continued investment in African film & television and to continuously lend our support to developing homegrown African content. The AfricaMagic Viewers’ Choice Awards is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the people in front and behind the cameras who make African story telling truly beautiful and compelling to watch. At AfricaMagic we are truly delighted with the list of nominees, we believe every nominee is a winner and we wish you all best of luck on the big night.”
MultiChoice Africa pioneered the first Africa Magic channel in 2003 which has since grown into 8 channels including AfricaMagic, AfricaMagic Entertainment, AfricaMagic Movies, AfricaMagic Movies 1, AfricaMagic World and dedicated language channels AfricaMagic Hausa, AfricaMagic Swahili and AfricaMagic Yoruba. Africa Magic channels are accessible to over 50 countries on the continent through our DStv and GOtv services.
Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has announced the postponement of its maiden annual Public Relations, Reputation, Ideas, Concepts and Excellence (PRICE) Awards and Prizes to January 25, 2026.
NIPR
The event, earlier scheduled for December 7, 2025, was deferred to accommodate stakeholders whose observance of Christmas festivities had commenced earlier than expected.
Chairman of the Organising Committee, Mr. Israel Opayemi, urged stakeholders to note the new date and prepare to participate in the ceremony.
He said the awards would motivate professionals, practitioners and scholars, while enhancing Nigeria’s global competitiveness in the public relations ecosystem and strengthening brand equity for all stakeholders.
Opayemi reaffirmed the Committee’s commitment to delivering a best-in-class award administration and ceremony, describing the PRICE Awards as a credible and enduring platform to identify, celebrate and elevate outstanding individuals, campaigns and organisations shaping the public relations landscape across sectors.
The development of the PRICE Awards peaked in September 2025 when the NIPR President and Chairman, Council, Dr. Ike Neliaku, inaugurated a 12-man committee to organise the maiden edition. The inauguration followed the Council’s adoption of the report of a technical team tasked with establishing the awards.
Netflix has announced a landmark agreement to acquire Warner Bros. and HBO Max in a transaction valued at $82.7 billion, a move analysts say will reshape the global entertainment industry.
Netflix
The deal, which includes Warner Bros.’ film and television studios, HBO, HBO Max, and Warner Bros. Games, was unanimously approved by the boards of both companies. Under the terms, Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) shareholders will receive $23.25 in cash and $4.50 in Netflix shares for each WBD share.
Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos described the acquisition as “a defining moment” for the streaming giant, noting that the company intends to maintain Warner Bros.’ current operations while expanding its production capacity.
“By combining Warner Bros.’ incredible library of shows and movies with Netflix’s culture-defining titles, we can give audiences more of what they love and help define the next century of storytelling,” Sarandos said.
The transaction is expected to close within 12 to 18 months, following the planned spin-off of WBD’s TV networks division, Discovery Global, in 2026. Netflix projects annual cost savings of $2–3 billion by the third year after completion and expects the deal to be accretive to earnings per share by year two.
Industry groups, including the Directors Guild of America and Cinema United, have raised concerns about the impact on movie theaters, while regulators are expected to scrutinize the deal over antitrust issues. Netflix has pledged to continue supporting theatrical releases, with Warner Bros.’ cinema commitments running through 2029.
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav hailed the agreement, saying it “combines two of the greatest storytelling companies in the world to bring to even more people the entertainment they love.”
Observers note that the acquisition comes 15 years after former Time Warner chief Jeff Bewkes dismissed Netflix as “the Albanian army,” underscoring the dramatic shift in the entertainment landscape.
A major shake‑up rocks viewers and subscribers of DSTV/GOTV as many channels are set to shut down and be removed on January 1, 2026.
The trigger for the upcoming shut‑down is a breakdown in negotiations between the owners of multiple global channels and the pay‑TV operator.
As of December 2025, the deal between Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) and DStv/GOtv has expired and the two parties have not reached a renewal agreement.
Without a new carriage/distribution agreement, the channels belonging to WBD risk being pulled off the DStv/GOtv line‑up.
This is the most significant content cutback the service has seen in years.
The affected channels are:
Discovery Channel
TLC
Cartoonito
Cartoon Network
CNN International
Food Network
The Travel Channel
TNT
Investigation Discovery
Real Time
HGTV
Discovery Family
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