Pay-Tv company MultiChoice's video streaming platform, Showmax, is set to cease operations following years of substantial financial losses and intense competition in the digital entertainment ecosystem. The decision, which has been communicated to subscribers via email, follows a comprehensive review by the company’s board, with the final determination made after the acquisition by Canal+ in September 2025. While initially a MultiChoice initiative, the French company, upon its takeover, prioritized profitability and found Showmax's financial performance unsustainable.

Showmax’s journey has been marked by significant financial challenges. In the three years leading up to Canal+'s takeover of MultiChoice, the platform accumulated losses amounting to approximately $428.9 million. This trend continued into the 2025 earnings, where trading losses widened by a staggering 88% to $297 million, while revenue plummeted to just $48.5 million, drastically missing its ambitious $1 billion annual revenue target. Furthermore, in 2024 alone, the business recorded roughly $140 million in losses, underscoring the difficulties of building a profitable streaming platform in emerging markets where subscription prices remain low despite rising production and licensing costs. High operating costs also contributed to its persistent negative margins.

The platform struggled intensely against established global rivals such as Netflix, YouTube, and Amazon Prime Video, as well as HBO and the emergence of cheap illegal IPTV services and short video platforms like TikTok. Despite efforts to revamp its technology in early 2024 by investing in new infrastructure from NBCUniversal’s Peacock, Showmax failed to capture the affordability preferences of the African population, a market it had previously decided to focus on exclusively.

This is not Showmax's first encounter with shutdowns. The platform had previously ceased operations outside Africa in December 2023, a strategic move intended to concentrate solely on the African market. However, even this focused approach did not yield the projected performance, leading to the continued financial struggles that ultimately precipitated the current decision to discontinue the service entirely.

For current subscribers, Showmax has assured that there will be no immediate interruption to ongoing services. An email to customers stated, “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.” The company also promised to provide more details about official timelines and necessary future steps. MultiChoice, and now Canal+, have both emphasized that streaming remains central to their overall strategy, committing to continued investment in premium content, technology innovation, and partnerships to deliver entertainment experiences to their customers, though it remains unclear if this will be through a new platform or restructured existing services.

The closure of Showmax marks the end of one of Africa’s most ambitious attempts to build a homegrown streaming platform capable of competing with international entertainment companies. With over two million subscribers and operations in more than 40 African markets, Showmax had grown to be the largest streaming platform focused on the continent. Canal+ has indicated that employees affected by the shutdown will receive support through this transition, although specific details regarding potential job cuts were not provided.