MultiChoice replaces Africa Magic Family with Africa Magic+

MultiChoice has discontinued Africa Magic Family after 12 years on DStv, replacing the popular entertainment channel with a new offering, Africa Magic+, in a change that has attracted attention from subscribers.

The new channel began broadcasting at 6am on November 5, 2026, following an announcement by Africa Magic on its official Instagram page. The announcement described the development as the end of one chapter and the beginning of another, promising viewers more stories, drama and variety.

The replacement is part of MultiChoice's wider restructuring of its DStv channel line-up and subscription packages, which also took effect on November 5. Under the new arrangement, Africa Magic+ is included in the lower-priced DStv Starter package, making locally produced entertainment accessible to more households.

The disappearance of Africa Magic Family represents more than a routine channel adjustment for viewers who have followed its programmes over the years.

For 12 years, Africa Magic Family served as a familiar destination for Nigerian films, family-friendly entertainment and locally produced television dramas. Its programming helped bring African stories into homes, offering audiences relatable characters, everyday experiences, humour and family-centred storylines.

Popular productions such as The Johnsons and Hustle became part of the channel's entertainment identity, attracting viewers who preferred homegrown stories to foreign television content.

For these audiences, the change raises questions about whether familiar programmes will continue, how the new channel will approach local storytelling and whether the replacement will maintain the atmosphere that made its predecessor popular.

MultiChoice has described Africa Magic+ as a broader entertainment offering, promising greater variety. The company has also presented its wider package changes as an effort to provide more content and value to subscribers.

The development could influence how Nigerians watch local television. Placing Africa Magic+ on a more affordable package could widen access to Nigerian productions, particularly among households unable to afford higher subscription tiers.

However, the channel's success will depend on the quality, consistency and originality of its programming.

In all, viewers will judge Africa Magic+ not simply by its name or promises, but by whether it continues to tell the stories that make African television worth watching.