South African pay television broadcaster DStv has started informing subscribers that it will close the Cine Magic channel on 30 June 2026. The channel, operate...
South African pay television broadcaster DStv has started informing subscribers that it will close the Cine Magic channel on 30 June 2026. The channel, operated under the M-Net division, is currently available on the affordable EasyView bouquet.
A notice recently displayed on the channel’s programme schedule bar confirmed the closure date. Cine Magic was introduced on DStv EasyView in November 2022 and offered viewers a mix of African and international movies in different languages.
The launch of Cine Magic came shortly after DStv also introduced Magic Showcase to EasyView subscribers. That channel appears to have been removed quietly from the platform. It is separate from Africa Magic Showcase, which remains available on channel 151 for subscribers on higher-priced packages.
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At the time of the launch of Cine Magic and Magic Showcase, former M-Net chief executive Nomsa Philiso said the channels were intended to give all DStv subscribers access to award-winning local productions and movies.
MyBroadband contacted Canal+, which now owns DStv, seeking reasons behind the closure of Cine Magic. However, the company had not responded to questions at the time of publication.
Recent developments suggest that Canal+ has shifted its focus away from the EasyView bouquet. Earlier this month, EasyView was no longer available for purchase through the DStv website, with Access becoming the lowest-priced package shown to customers.
Visitors selecting the “Get DStv” option on the website were presented with only five higher-priced bouquets. Searches for EasyView within the online product catalogue also returned no results.
Canal+ told MyBroadband that its online offerings were aligned with DStv Stream packages, which do not include the EasyView option. However, the explanation did not clarify why other satellite packages remained available through the website.
Customers who want to subscribe to EasyView are currently required to use DStv’s call centre or WhatsApp support services. Following the closure of Cine Magic, the EasyView package will consist of 35 channels in South Africa.
Subscribers on Access, Family, Compact, Compact Plus and Premium packages will receive a new addition next month. DStv recently announced the introduction of Novelas+, Canal+’s leading channel in French-speaking Africa based on audience size.
Novelas+ will replace Tlnovelas on channel 133 after that channel was removed at the end of January 2026. Programmes on the channel will be dubbed in English for South African viewers, while Portuguese dubbing will be available in Angola and Mozambique.
Nomsa Philiso, who now serves as Canal+ director for content and general entertainment for English- and Portuguese-speaking Africa, said telenovelas continue to attract strong interest from viewers across the continent.
“We’re bringing all the passionate flavours of global dramas to their screens, with new episodes every day,” she said.
“Quality is everything, and we’re curating, localising, and scheduling only the best for our viewers, including Turkish telenovelas, which have become a global sensation.”
The latest changes form part of several adjustments made to DStv’s channel lineup in 2026 as the broadcaster continues to review its content offering across different subscription packages.
