Broadcasting
NBC Urges Multichoice to sublet channels to Metro TV
National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has directed pay television giant, Multichoice to sublicense some of its channels to Metro Digital Limited (Metro TV) in compliance with the current Broadcast Code and a recent appeal court judgement.
NBC gave the directive to the South African satellite TV network in a letter dated 25 October 2022, addressed to the Chief Executive Officer of Multichoice and signed by Chief George Obi, Head of Legal of NBC on behalf of the Director General of the commission.
The directive read in part, “You are hereby directed to comply with the 6th edition of the NBC Code as amended pursuant to Metro Digital’s request for channels sublicensing as ordered by the Federal Court of Appeal.”
Managing Director of Metro TV, Dr Ifeanyi Nwafor, MD, who has been on a three year legal battle with NBC and Multichoice to do the needful, told Vanguard on Monday in Port Harcourt, Rivers state, that the development will end Pay TV monopoly, restore several jobs loss and benefit Pay TV consumers in better service at affordable rates.
Nwafor said, “The growth of the broadcast industry in Nigeria has been limited due to monopolistic practices of the dominant player in the industry. AIl indigenous companies licensed in the last twenty years did not succeed because of these practices which includes content exclusivity, warehousing etc.
“Federal Government (FG) of Nigeria realizing the inherent danger outlawed foreign and domestic acquisition of contents on the basis of exclusivity, through amendment to the Broadcast Code. Furthermore, licensees and broadcasters are obligated to sublicense channels to other licensees or broadcasters for commercially agreeable fees.
“In tune with the foregoing, the appeal court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers state in an appeal filed by Metro Digital, ordered the regulatory body, NBC to execute its statutory functions in accordance with the provisions of the code.
“We are glad NBC has complied with the order of the court. The end of monopoly in Nigeria broadcasting industry will enhance competition, innovation and quality of service delivery. The industry will experience rapid growth, consumers will benefit from the competitive pricing that follows.
“We commend the role played by the FG, the Minister for Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and NBC towards the repositioning of the industry and end the monopolistic practices that have held the industry down for a long time.”
Nwafor who said Metro Digital would restore operations in coming disclosed that his organisation has applied to Mulitchoice requesting to be sublet Metro TV over 50 channels including views delight, the English Premier League on Supersports.
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
Paramount Africa is officially shutting down at the end of December 2025, drawing the curtain on more than two decades of operations in South Africa and Nigeria.
The company, which once reached over 100 million viewers across 52 African territories, confirmed it will close its doors as part of a massive global restructuring at its parent company, Paramount Global.
This is the same Paramount Africa behind channels like BET, MTV, MTV Base, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, and more.
Its digital footprint has also been significant, with millions of monthly page views, social media engagements, and content partnerships across Africa.
But despite that scale, rising costs and a global strategic reset have caught up with the business.
Paramount’s retrenchment has been building for months.
Earlier this year, plans to launch a standalone Paramount+ app in South Africa were quietly shelved.
Then in August, the company said its content would remain available only via DStv and Showmax.
And last month, MultiChoice confirmed that BET Africa and MTV Base will disappear from DStv and GOtv on January 1, 2026, as Paramount Africa winds down entirely.
The shutdown is tied to aggressive cost-cutting after Paramount’s merger with Skydance. The company is targeting a 15% reduction in global staff and $3 billion in savings.
International divisions, including Africa, have taken the hardest hit as the business pivots away from linear TV and doubles down on a more streamlined streaming-first model.
At the same time, the global media landscape is being shaken by Warner Bros. Discovery’s chaotic auction. Netflix, Paramount, and Comcast have all submitted fresh bids for WBD, with some offers reportedly focusing on the studios-and-streaming division, home to HBO, HBO Max, DC, and Warner Bros. Pictures.
Analysts say the crown jewel bundle could go for as much as $70 billion, a deal that would reshape Hollywood and accelerate the decline of traditional TV.
DStv subscribers may lose access to 12 major Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) channels, including CNN International, Discovery Channel, TLC, and Cartoon Network, from Jan. 1, 2026, if MultiChoice and WBD fail to conclude a new distribution agreement.
DStv
MultiChoice, now owned by Canal+, issued a notice to customers on Monday, warning that its current carriage deal with WBD will expire on Dec. 31, 2025, and negotiations to renew the contract remain inconclusive.
“While discussions between the parties continue, no agreement has been reached at this stage. If this remains unchanged, several Warner Bros. Discovery channels may no longer be available on DStv from Jan. 1, 2026,” the company said.
The channels at risk include Discovery Channel, CNN International, TLC, Discovery Family, Real Time, TNT Africa, Food Network, HGTV, Investigation Discovery, Cartoon Network, Cartoonito, and Travel Channel.
The development comes amid subscriber losses for MultiChoice, which has shed 2.8 million active linear subscribers over the last two financial years.
This includes 1.2 million customers lost in 2025 alone, representing an 8 per cent decline across South Africa and the rest of Africa.
In Nigeria, MultiChoice has lost 1.4 million subscribers in the past two years, largely due to repeated subscription price increases, according to Nairametrics.
The broadcaster is also set to lose additional content in the coming months. Paramount Africa will discontinue BET Africa and MTV Base from Jan. 1, 2026, while CBS Reality and CBS Justice will cease operations on Dec. 31, 2025.
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