As MultiChoice battles subscribers loses, more channels are been axed down. The popular children’s channel, PBS Kids which aimed at viewers aged two to eight, will be removed from DStv by the end of this month, marking it the 12th channel to disappear from the pay-TV operator’s lineup this year.
In a message displayed on-screen, PBS Kids (DStv 313) informed subscribers that it will no longer be available after August 31, 2024, thanking viewers for their support. While MultiChoice has confirmed the removal of PBS Kids, the company has not provided a clear reason for this decision or whether it was initiated by them or by America’s Public Broadcasting Service (PBS).
In response to media inquiries, MultiChoice stated that it regularly reviews its channel offerings to ensure the best local and international content for its customers. As part of this ongoing process, PBS Kids will no longer be available on GOtv channel 65 and DStv channel 313 as of August 31, 2024.
PBS Kids first appeared on MultiChoice platforms in July 2018, initially available through the DStv Now Catch Up service. In May 2019, the channel was added to DStv as a linear TV channel, starting as a pop-up channel before becoming a permanent fixture. At the time, MultiChoice received positive feedback from viewers, especially parents who appreciated the educational and entertaining content provided by PBS Kids.
Andrea Downing, PBS Distribution Co-President, expressed excitement at the time about bringing PBS Kids content to a new audience through DStv, highlighting the channel’s role in helping children learn and grow.
This year alone, DStv subscribers, who have been paying higher fees since April, have lost access to 11 other TV channels on MultiChoice’s platform, including Deutsche Welle, Emmanuel TV, B4U Movies, 1Free State TV, NWTV, People’s Weather, 1Magic, ME, GinX, WildEarth, and Africa Magic Urban.
Adding to the company’s challenges, MultiChoice is facing financial difficulties and is technically insolvent. Vivendi’s Canal+ in France is in the midst of an aggressive takeover and buyout of the company, despite South Africa’s strict regulations on foreign media ownership aimed at preventing such occurrences.