Africa’s largest homegrown streaming platform is coming to an end. MultiChoice has begun notifying Showmax subscribers that it will discontinue the service “in the near future”, confirming months of speculation about the loss-making platform’s fate.
In an email sent to customers on 5 March 2026, the MultiChoice Team said the decision followed “a comprehensive review” and reflects a focus on “strengthening our overall digital offering and ensuring long-term sustainability in an increasingly competitive streaming environment”.
No immediate interruption
MultiChoice said the service will continue operating for now. “There will be no interruption to your current service,” the company stated. “You can continue streaming as usual, and no action is required from you at this time.” The company promised to share timelines and transition details “well in advance”.
Billions in losses
The announcement follows a turbulent period for Showmax. The platform recorded a trading loss of R4.9 billion in the year ended 31 March 2025, an 88% deterioration from the previous year’s R2.6 billion loss. The losses came despite a 44% year-on-year increase in paying subscribers.
Groupe Canal+, which completed its acquisition of MultiChoice in September 2025, had signalled the move for weeks. CEO Maxime Saada described Showmax as “not a commercial success” in January 2026, while MultiChoice CEO David Mignot said the platform “can’t continue” in its current form.
From ambition to retreat
Showmax launched in 2015 and was available in 44 African countries, making it the continent’s most widely distributed homegrown streaming service. A major relaunch in partnership with Comcast’s NBCUniversal in early 2024 brought exclusive English Premier League coverage and a refreshed technology stack. At its peak, the platform claimed more than 2 million subscribers across Africa, briefly overtaking Netflix on the continent.
But the ambitions proved too costly. Original projections called for $1 billion in annual revenue and 16 million subscribers within 5 years. Actual results fell well short, with revenue declining even as subscriber numbers grew.
What comes next
Canal+ has said it is not exiting streaming entirely. The company is expected to provide a fuller strategic update when it releases full-year financial results on 11 March 2026. One option under consideration is rolling out the Canal+ App in markets where MultiChoice operates, as it already does in French-speaking Africa.
Canal+ holds a 30% joint venture stake with Comcast’s NBCUniversal in Showmax, and the two companies are in active discussions about the platform’s future and the Premier League rights it carries.
This is a developing story. We will update as more information becomes available.
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