MultiChoice Group has announced plans to shut down its streaming platform Showmax after 11 years of operation, marking the end of one of Africa’s most prominent homegrown video-on-demand services.
The company disclosed the decision in a message sent to subscribers on Thursday, stating that the move followed a comprehensive strategic review by the Showmax board. According to the company, the shutdown is part of efforts to strengthen its broader digital strategy and adapt to the increasingly competitive global streaming market.
Launched in 2015 in South Africa, Showmax expanded rapidly across Africa, offering movies, TV series, documentaries, and locally produced content tailored to African audiences. Over the years, the platform positioned itself as a regional alternative to global streaming giants such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.
Despite its growth and popularity, the platform reportedly faced mounting financial pressure and stiff competition from international streaming services with significantly larger budgets and content libraries. Industry analysts say these challenges have made it difficult for regional streaming platforms to remain profitable.
MultiChoice noted that the service will continue operating for now and that subscribers do not need to take any immediate action. The company said further details regarding the timeline for the shutdown and next steps for customers will be communicated in due course.
The closure will mark the end of an era for Showmax, which played a major role in expanding digital streaming access and promoting African storytelling across the continent for more than a decade.
