M-Net

What M-Net does

M-Net is a South African pay-TV general entertainment channel operating as a subsidiary of MultiChoice Group within the DStv satellite and streaming ecosystem. Founded approximately 1986 and headquartered in Randburg, M-Net broadcasts on DStv channel 101 and extends across four M-Net Movies channels (104-108), offering international series, Hollywood films, sports, reality programming, and local investigative journalism such as Carte Blanche. The channel is exclusively distributed through MultiChoice's DStv decoder packages and DStv Stream OTT platform.

M-Net's product surface comprises the core M-Net channel 101, the M-Net Movies suite, the DStv Stream streaming service, the MyDStv self-serve mobile application, and BoxOffice transactional movie rentals. Its core technology is digital satellite television broadcasting supplemented by an internet-delivered OTT stack. Content is curated under long-term licensing agreements negotiated at the MultiChoice parent level, with M-Net acting as the primary premium general entertainment brand within the group's channel portfolio.

The business model is subscription-based and recurring, monetised through tiered DStv packages ranging from EasyView at R30/month to Premium at R979/month. Nine distinct packages are offered, targeting different price points and content preferences. Revenue flows through MultiChoice to M-Net as an internal content and channel allocation; M-Net does not independently contract with subscribers. The primary customer segment is South African Pay-TV subscribers seeking premium international entertainment, with no disclosed enterprise or B2B customer base.

Name

M-Net

Legal name

M-Net

Website

https://mnet.dstv.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

M-Net is a South African premium pay-TV channel within the MultiChoice/DStv ecosystem, broadcasting international series, films, and sport on channel 101 to South African subscribers via tiered satellite and streaming packages.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pay Television

NAICS

Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (516210), Satellite Telecommunications (517410)

SIC

Cable & Other Pay Television Services (4841)

akta.pro primary industry

Premium Pay Cable Networks (MPABAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

General Entertainment Cable Networks (MPABAFAA), Pay-TV Value-Added Services (DVR, VOD, TV Everywhere, Apps) (MPABAGAG)

Keywords

• Pay television
• Satellite broadcasting
• TV subscription
• Premium entertainment
• Video streaming

Headquarters

HQ city

Randburg

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Subscription Revenue: M-Net generates revenue as a premium channel within MultiChoice's DStv satellite and streaming platforms. Viewers subscribe to DStv packages (Access through Premium tiers) which include access to M-Net channel 101 and associated M-Net channels. Revenue is recurring based on monthly subscription fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

M-Net operates as a premium pay-TV channel within the MultiChoice DStv ecosystem, broadcasting international series, movies, sports, and local programming on DStv channel 101 alongside its M-Net Movies suite (channels 104-108). The offering is delivered via satellite decoder packages and the DStv Stream over-the-top platform, with subscribers accessing content through tiered monthly packages ranging from EasyView (R30) to Premium (R979).

Product overview

M-Net is a South African pay television channel operated by MultiChoice, available through DStv satellite and streaming platforms. The offering comprises the flagship M-Net Channel 101 (channel 104-108 for M-Net Movies suite), the DStv Stream over-the-top streaming service, the MyDStv mobile app for account management, and BoxOffice for movie rentals. Content is distributed through tiered DStv subscription packages ranging from Access (80+ channels) to Premium (136+ channels), with M-Net serving as the primary general entertainment channel featuring international series, movies, and local content.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• M-Net Channel 101

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Showmax: Showmax is MultiChoice's own OTT streaming service offering premium international and African content, integrated with DStv Premium. It is the streaming-native counterpart to M-Net within the MultiChoice ecosystem and competes directly with M-Net for the same premium South African viewers.
• SuperSport: SuperSport is the flagship sports pay-TV channel on DStv alongside M-Net, operated by MultiChoice. It shares the same distribution platform, tiered subscription model, and South African audience, making it the closest direct peer within the same ecosystem.
• kykNET: kykNET is a MultiChoice-owned Afrikaans-language general entertainment channel distributed via DStv. It shares the same distribution infrastructure, tiered subscription packaging, and premium-channel positioning as M-Net, targeting a different language segment within the same audience.
• Mzansi Magic: Mzansi Magic is a DStv general entertainment channel focused on South African local content, sitting alongside M-Net in the same MultiChoice bundle. It competes for similar audience attention and is positioned as a complementary general entertainment channel on the same tiers.

Broad incumbents

• MultiChoice Group: MultiChoice is the parent company of M-Net and the broader DStv platform across Sub-Saharan Africa. As the incumbent pay-TV operator, MultiChoice provides M-Net's distribution, technology, and commercial framework, and is the parent within which M-Net's value sits.
• Canal+: Canal+ is a major French-headquartered pay-TV operator with growing Sub-Saharan African operations and an emerging controlling stake in MultiChoice. It is a broad incumbent competing with DStv/M-Net in African markets and now influences MultiChoice's strategic direction.

Regional players

• StarTimes: StarTimes is a Beijing-backed pay-TV operator active across Sub-Saharan Africa, competing with DStv in South Africa and surrounding markets with low-cost digital terrestrial and satellite packages. It targets the same mass-market South African consumer that M-Net's lower DStv tiers serve.

Emerging players

• Disney+: Disney+ offers premium international film, series, and franchise content to South African subscribers, including content that competes with M-Net's slate. As a global streaming incumbent expanding into Africa, it pressures M-Net's premium-tier subscriber base.
• Amazon Prime Video South Africa: Amazon Prime Video offers premium international film and series content to South African subscribers, often bundled with broader Prime benefits. It overlaps with M-Net's movie suite and premium international programming focus at a competitive price point.
• Netflix South Africa: Netflix is the dominant global OTT streaming service with a substantial South African subscriber base. It competes directly with M-Net and DStv for premium international content viewing time and is the principal structural alternative to DStv's premium-tier offerings.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/DStvOnline
• Facebookfacebook.com/dstv
• Instagraminstagram.com/DStvza
• Xx.com/MNet
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/multichoicemalawi

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about M-Net