Canal+'s MultiChoice To Revive Africa Magic+ Brand Name On DStv

Following the inclusion of M Movies+ and Wethu+, Canal+’s MultiChoice will be giving one of M-Net’s Africa Magic channels the “+” stamp of approval. This channel is set to be renamed Africa Magic+. This comes after it was announced that MultiChoice would be revamping DStv packages across Africa.

Interestingly, Africa Magic+ is not a brand-new name. 

Back in June 2008, M-Net launched AfricaMagic Plus on DStv channel 115. The original Africa Magic channel started in 2003 and focused mainly on content from West Africa, especially Nigerian Nollywood movies. AfricaMagic Plus was created to bring programming from East and Southern Africa, including shows and movies from countries like Botswana, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Over time it was rebranded and eventually became what we now know as Africa Magic Showcase.

Africa Magic+ forms part of a number of leaks at DStv alongside Maisha Magic Loko, which is slated to replace Maisha Magic East in November. It goes to show that MultiChoice has been handling the rollout of these new services poorly.

MultiChoice has been teasing about the offering for weeks now following its launch in South Africa, and they haven’t made much effort in trying to unveil these services. Since then, several leaks have emerged and from what we can sum up, DStv is being divided into two separate feeds.

Consumers in Southern Africa, which comprise Botswana, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Namibia and Zambia, will be getting the Movie & Series package which gives audiences access to M-Net and M Movies+. While other African countries will see the number of DStv packages reduce from 5 to 4.

It remains unclear which brand(s) will be getting replaced with Africa Magic+, but it wouldn’t surprise me if Africa Magic Showcase (or Family) were to be a casualty.

Last month, MultiChoice decided to merge Mzansi Music and Mzansi Bioskop offering into Mzansi Wethu to form Wethu+. It continues operating as a spin-off to Mzansi Magic with its own footing which comprise of News On Wethu, weekly PSL matches and the international series, Umhlaba Wezifiso.

Maybe MultiChoice seeks to utilise the concept through Africa Magic+, but questions amount to how much streamlining the company intends to implement in order to get this brand off the ground. It may not be Africa Magic Showcase (or Family) but even regional networks like Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa.

Canal+ Afrique already packages brands like Africa Magic Epic, Africa Magic Showcase, Africa Magic Yoruba and Africa Magic Hausa, making them likely candidates to stay onboard DStv. This would leave only Africa Magic Family and Africa Magic Igbo which remain exclusive to MultiChoice platforms.

In other developments, MultiChoice is set to axe Zee TV, Zee Cinema, WION, SET Max and SET Asia on DStv by the end of October. This will be followed by JimJam which served as one of the last remaining channels by AMC Networks International following the closures of CBS Reality and CBS Justice.