US EditionCanal+ unit MultiChoice ends streaming platform Showmax, citing losses
- On Thursday, Canal+ and MultiChoice confirmed they will discontinue Showmax following a comprehensive review, with the Showmax board deciding to shutter the service.
- Following the takeover, Canal+ said Showmax's substantial annual losses proved unsustainable after a comprehensive review, with MultiChoice's losses ballooning by 88% to R4.9 billion in 2025.
- Showmax relaunched in February 2024 using Comcast's Peacock technology and NBCUniversal took a 30% stake, but MultiChoice and NBCUniversal's $309,000,000 equity failed to meet growth targets; originals will shift to DStv linear channels and staff reassigned without retrenchments.
- Shifting resources, Canal+ will prioritise MultiChoice’s streaming offerings and premium content, aiming to shave 400,000,000 euro by 2030; Canal+ reports financial results on March 11.
- With Showmax having expanded to 44 countries after a 2024 relaunch, its loss reshapes the regional content landscape as African filmmakers say losing Showmax removes a key outlet amid Amazon MGM Studios' earlier exit.
55 Articles
55 Articles
Mzansi in disbelief: social media erupts over Showmax closure
In a stunning shake-up, MultiChoice, which has been acquired by Canal+, announced the closure of Showmax, a beloved platform that has played a pivotal role in shaping African storytelling. This article delves into the impact of this decision and how it signifies a new chapter in the streaming industry.
After 11 years, MultiChoice to shut down Showmax streaming service
MultiChoice, parent company of DStv and GOtv, has revealed plans to shut down its streaming platform Showmax after more than a decade of operation. In a message to customers dated March 5, the company said the move follows a strategic review aimed at strengthening its overall digital offerings and ensuring long-term sustainability amid growing competition in the streaming sector. Originally launched in South Africa in 2015, Showmax expanded over…
Showmax axed in shock move by Canal+
MultiChoice, which is now part of the Canal+ Group, has confirmed it will discontinue its Showmax streaming service following what the company described as a comprehensive review of its streaming operations. Showmax’s substantial losses In a statement issued on Thursday, the broadcaster wrote that the decision was taken by the Showmax board after evaluating the platform’s financial performance in an increasingly competitive global streaming mark…
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