DStv removes M-Net movies 1: What viewers need to know

DStv viewers who have grown used to scrolling through the M-Net Movies channels when looking for something to watch are about to see a change. M-Net Movies 1 will disappear from the South African DStv line-up on 16 September 2026, as part of a wider reshuffle of the platform’s channels.

The change may sound small, especially when there are still plenty of other channels on the service, but movie lovers know that losing a familiar channel can make a difference. There is always that moment when you switch on the television with no particular plan, scroll through the movie channels and somehow end up watching a film you have already seen three times. That little ritual is about to change.

The announcement comes as DStv reviews its channel line-up and moves towards what it describes as a more streamlined offering. Here are five things viewers should know about the M-Net Movies 1 shutdown.

M-Net Movies 1 will close on September 16

M-Net Movies 1 is scheduled to stop broadcasting at 23:59 on September 16, 2026, in South Africa. It is one of four channels being removed from the DStv line-up on that date, alongside kykNET Lekker, Mzansi Bioskop and Mzansi Music.

The move is part of an ongoing review of the DStv channel catalogue. According to MultiChoice’s explanation, viewing habits are changing, and the company wants to concentrate similar content across fewer, stronger channels instead of spreading it across a large number of stations.

For viewers, however, the important question is not simply how many channels disappear. It is whether the remaining channels continue to provide enough content to justify the subscription.

M-Net Movies 2 is getting a new name

The changes do not mean the end of the M-Net Movies brand altogether. According to veteran broadcasting journalist Thinus Ferreira, M-Net Movies 2 will be renamed M Movies+ on the same day that M-Net Movies 1 closes.

MultiChoice’s South African licensed broadcaster has not confirmed whether the two movie channels are being formally merged into one service. It has instead said that it continually reviews the DStv offering and that customers affected by channel or product changes will be informed.

That distinction matters. A channel disappearing does not automatically mean that every film previously shown on it will disappear as well. Viewers should therefore wait for the final programming details before assuming that their favourite movies have vanished into the television wilderness.

Fewer channels do not necessarily mean fewer movies

This is probably the biggest thing viewers should keep in mind.

DStv has reduced the number of movie channels before. In 2020, MultiChoice reorganised its M-Net Movies offering, cutting the number of dedicated movie channels from six to four. At the time, the company argued that reducing the number of channels did not necessarily reduce the number of movies available to subscribers.

The same principle appears to be behind the latest reshuffle. Instead of maintaining several channels carrying overlapping types of entertainment, the company says it wants to concentrate content.

For viewers, the real test will be the programming itself. A shorter channel list can be convenient if it makes finding something good easier. It becomes frustrating when fewer channels simply mean more repetition.

The changes are part of a bigger DStv shake-up

M-Net Movies 1 is not disappearing in isolation. DStv is also making several changes to its sports offering, including new and renamed SuperSport channels.

Among the planned additions is SuperSport Football Plus, which will focus on premium football, while SuperSport Africa will showcase South African and African sport. SuperSport KickOff will provide additional football coverage, while SuperSport Extra 2 will offer more capacity when several major sporting events are taking place at the same time.

This points to a broader strategy: fewer general channels and more specialised destinations for particular types of content.

For subscribers, that could make the electronic programme guide easier to navigate. Nobody enjoys spending ten minutes scrolling through hundreds of options only to conclude that there is “nothing to watch”.