MultiChoice, the company behind the popular on-demand video streaming service Showmax, has announced that as of December 1, 2023, the service will no longer be available outside of Africa.
This decision follows the recent announcement that Showmax Pro, their streaming platform, will be phased out by November 30, 2023, as part of a larger effort to revamp Showmax. New subscriptions for Showmax Pro ceased on October 1.
Existing Showmax Pro subscribers will be transferred to DSTV Stream, Multichoice’s new online streaming platform, which doesn’t require a dish or decoder.
In a statement to their customers, Showmax explained the discontinuation of their services outside Africa, emphasizing their focus on the African market and serving the needs of their growing customer base across the continent.
MultiChoice has forged partnerships with American entertainment giant NBCUniversal and British media company Sky Group to become Africa’s leading streaming service. NBCUniversal currently holds a 30% stake in Showmax.
As part of this partnership, Showmax plans to launch an enhanced version of its service, Showmax 2.0, either later in the year or in early 2024. Showmax 2.0 will feature a mix of Showmax originals, international content from Sky, NBCUniversal, HBO, Warner Brothers, and Sony, along with Multichoice’s locally produced channels like Africa Magic, Mzansi Magic, and Maisha Magic.
Additionally, subscribers will gain access to more live sports, including the English Premier League, with improvements to the platform’s live sports streaming service following the relaunch.