Canal+ Might Be Looking To Do Away With M-Net And DStv Brand Names

Following it's debut on the JSE, Canal+ had been given hints that the M-Net and DStv brand names could be fading away soon. With SuperSport being the only brand exempted from this possible restructuring due to its continued dominance.

After Canal+ acquisition MultiChoice by late 2025, plans are sort of underway to streamline the French media giant's assets. This includes shrinking the current portfolio at MultiChoice as Canal+ mentioned that the company has too many brands.

As reported, Magic Showcase and CineMagic will be removed from MultiChoice's platforms by the end of June. Then there's the inclusion of the French company's telenovela channel Novelas+ to MultiChoice's platforms.

Following it's inclusion in French and Polish markets, Canal+ is not only giving DStv consumers access to telenovelas from Mexico and Turkey. They're basically offering a brand that they can market globally which is the reason for simplifying.

Questions making the waves now by some DStv consumers is whether a Canal+ branded TV channel(s) is in development behind the scenes. M-Net is turning 40 soon and for all we know that could as well become Canal+ Premium/Premiere.

Canal+ Premiere/Premium is a TV channel that licenses shows from international companies like Paramount and NBCUniversal. Following Canal+'s takeover of MultiChoice, M-Net is now Canal+'s Premiere equivalent in Anglophone countries.

The issue broadcasters face with having both an M-Net and Canal+ Premiere is the additional costs associated with maintaining two separate brands. For shows like Landman, Canal+ would have to pay company A and B to curate respective adverts.

As seen with Novelas+, by maintaining one brand Canal+ can rely on one company to handle the adverts for shows and to also adjust the relevant ad to cater for that particular region.

While SuperSport remains safe for the foreseeable future, phasing out the DStv name will only add another layer of complexity. On a retail level, this is a product a lot of people from low income households are familiar with and a rebrand risks alienation. 

Canal+ is planning to rollout it's streaming app in MultiChoice markets and best case now would be utilising DStv Stream for those endeavours. But on a retail standpoint, they could opt for something a lot simplier like DStv (Powered By Canal+).

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