DStv Subscribers Face Uncertainty Over Harry Potter Series

DStv subscribers in Nigeria and other African countries may experience disappointment this Christmas due to uncertainty surrounding the availability of the Harry Potter television series. This situation arises from a dispute between Canal+, which controls MultiChoice, and Warner Bros.

Discovery regarding broadcasting rights. The crisis follows the expiration of MultiChoice's previous agreement at the end of December 2025.

Historically, M-Net, a flagship channel of DStv, had a strong relationship with HBO, providing popular shows to African audiences. However, after Canal+'s takeover, negotiations for international content rights were centralized in Paris, leading to the exclusion of HBO's premium content from agreements.

As a result, several major HBO productions, including House of the Dragon and The Gilded Age, are no longer available on M-Net. The biggest concern is the potential unavailability of HBO's new Harry Potter adaptation, scheduled for international release on December 25, 2026.

Nomsa Philiso, Canal+ Africa's executive vice president of content, acknowledged ongoing discussions with HBO but did not provide a timeline for resolution.