Streaming platform Showmax is set to be discontinued after the Showmax Board and its parent company MultiChoice, now part of Canal+, decided to phase out the service following a comprehensive review of its streaming operations and ongoing financial losses.
Showmax was launched in August 2015 by MultiChoice as a subscription video‑on‑demand (SVOD) streaming service across Africa.
Over the years, it grew to include entertainment, local originals and sports‑related content, competing with global streaming platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and others in the region.
In September 2025, French media company Canal+ completed its acquisition of MultiChoice, gaining control of the company’s assets, including Showmax.
The acquisition positioned Canal+ in multiple entertainment markets globally, reaching millions of subscribers across Africa and beyond.
In an official announcement, MultiChoice said it will discontinue the Showmax service after the board’s comprehensive review of its streaming operations found that substantial annual losses experienced by the Showmax business had proved unsustainable in the competitive and capital‑intensive streaming market.
The decision reflects MultiChoice’s focus on financial discipline and investment optimisation amid stiff competition from other global and regional streaming platforms.
The company said it intends to strengthen and consolidate its digital offerings as part of this strategic shift.
MultiChoice emphasised that the decision to discontinue Showmax will not involve retrenchments. The group said it will engage and support employees through various transition options as the platform is phased out.
The announcement also indicated that subscribers will not see immediate interruption to their current services.
The company said customers can continue streaming as usual for the time being, and that further communication on timelines and future arrangements would be shared later.
MultiChoice said Canal+ will continue to invest in premium content, technological innovation and strategic partnerships to enhance its broader entertainment portfolio for its audience.
The discontinuation of Showmax marks the end of an eleven‑year presence of the platform in the African streaming industry.
The decision may affect how some audiences access local and international content previously available on Showmax.
For MultiChoice, the decision could redirect focus and investment toward strengthened digital services, broader content offerings and platform consolidation, as the company positions itself against international competitors.
The announcement that no immediate interruption to service will occur and that employment will be preserved through transition support may help mitigate disruption for subscribers and staff in the short term.
