MultiChoice has announced plans to discontinue its video streaming platform, Showmax, saying the decision was taken by the Showmax Board after a review of its streaming operations.
The company disclosed this in a notice sent to subscribers on Thursday, informing customers that Showmax would be discontinued in the near future.
It read, “Following a comprehensive review, the Showmax Board has taken the decision to discontinue the Showmax service in the near future.”
MultiChoice said the move is linked to the pressure in the streaming market.
The email stated, “This decision reflects our focus on strengthening our overall digital offering and ensuring long term sustainability in an increasingly competitive streaming environment.”
The company, however, assured subscribers that there would be no disruption for now.
It said, “Importantly, at the moment there will be no interruption to your current service. You can continue streaming as usual, and no action is required from you at this time.”
MultiChoice also promised to communicate timelines ahead of any changes, adding, “We will share further details well in advance, including timelines and any future steps, should they be required.”
The decision comes after a Variety report said Canal+ plans to shut down Showmax as part of cost cutting measures following its acquisition of MultiChoice. Canal+ acquired control of MultiChoice in September 2025 and has been pushing savings reportedly targeted at about €400m by 2030.
Showmax was launched across Africa by MultiChoice in August 2015 as a competitor to Netflix, Apple TV+, Prime Video and Disney+.
In February 2024, MultiChoice relaunched the platform in partnership with NBCUniversal, using the technology behind Comcast’s Peacock streaming service, but the service reportedly struggled to meet subscriber growth targets despite heavy spending.
Variety reported that MultiChoice and NBCUniversal invested about $309m in equity funding, while Showmax trading losses worsened by 88 per cent in MultiChoice’s last annual results before the takeover.
Despite the planned shutdown, MultiChoice said jobs would not be affected, saying, “The decision to discontinue Showmax services will not involve any retrenchments. The group will be engaging and supporting employees through various transition options.”
The company also said, “Streaming remains central to our strategy. We will continue to invest in premium content, technology innovation and partnerships to deliver the best possible entertainment experience to our customers.”
