By Thebe Mabanga
French media giant Canal+ has announced plans to close MultiChoice’s streaming platform Showmax, just over ten years after it launched in August 2015, following mounting losses and a strategic shift after its takeover of the African broadcaster.
No official closing date has been announced.
In a statement released on Thursday, the company said the decision was aimed at achieving “financial discipline and investment optimisation in an increasingly competitive and capital-intensive global streaming environment.”
“The substantial annual losses experienced by the Showmax business have proved unsustainable,” the company said.
“The decision to phase out Showmax reflects our focus on building a sustainable, competitive business for the long term in an increasingly demanding global streaming environment.”
Showmax’s losses surged 88% in the 2025 financial year, rising from R2.6 billion to R4.9 billion, according to the company.
Canal+ said it would continue investing in premium content for MultiChoice subscribers, technological innovation and strategic partnerships to strengthen its position in the African entertainment market.
The move is expected to see subscribers redirected to Canal+’s own streaming platform, MyCanal, although it remains unclear whether investment in local South African and African productions will continue at current levels.
After its launch in 2015, Showmax achieved moderate growth while competing with international streaming platforms and MultiChoice’s own pay-TV offerings.
In 2023, the service underwent a major overhaul following a 30% stake acquisition by Comcast, including a technology revamp, brand refresh and expanded local content.
The platform also introduced live English Premier League football through SuperSport and developed original productions, including reality programming featuring South African celebrities such as Bonang Matheba.
Showmax had projected reaching 16 million subscribers paying R99 per month, but those targets were never achieved, contributing to the platform’s sustained financial losses.
Since assuming control, Canal+ has focused on cost-cutting and streamlining operations, including adjustments to SuperSport offerings.
The company currently operates in 30 countries, compared with MultiChoice’s footprint in 44 markets across Africa.
Canal+ said the decision aligns with its plan to deploy its in-house streaming platform, which already includes partnerships with Apple TV+ and Warner Bros Discovery’s HBO Max, to reach African consumers previously outside its service footprint.
Canal+ gained control of MultiChoice, which jointly owned Showmax with Comcast Corp, in a deal valuing the African broadcaster at about R52.7 billion.
MultiChoice’s operations are concentrated in Southern and East Africa, as well as Nigeria and Ghana, while Canal+ has long operated in francophone West Africa.
INSIDE POLITICS
