Canal+ Set To Shut Down Showmax Streaming Platform After MultiChoice Takeover

Canal+, the new owner of MultiChoice Group, is set to discontinue Showmax, the video streaming platform, as part of a broader cost-cutting and business restructuring effort.

Reports indicate that the decision follows an internal review of the company’s streaming operations, with Canal+ looking to reduce expenses and streamline its media and entertainment services.

MultiChoice and Canal+ confirmed the planned shutdown of the streaming platform, although no specific timeline has been announced. The companies said the service will be discontinued once legal and operational issues related to the transition are resolved.

Why the company is shutting down Showmax

According to the companies, the decision was made by the Showmax board and reflects MultiChoice’s renewed focus on financial discipline and investment optimisation amid an increasingly competitive and capital-intensive global streaming market.

MultiChoice assured that the closure of Showmax will not result in job losses.

Under the terms of Canal+’s takeover agreement, the company is not permitted to lay off staff for a period of three years.

“The decision to discontinue Showmax services will not involve any retrenchments. The group will be engaging and supporting employees through various transition options,” MultiChoice said.

Earlier in January, Canal+ CEO Maxime Saada described Showmax as “not a commercial success,” noting during an investor call that the streaming service had become a significant financial burden for MultiChoice.

Despite the shutdown, Canal+ said it will continue investing in premium content, technological innovation, and strategic partnerships to strengthen its position in the African entertainment market.

“Further details regarding our expanded content offering and platform upgrades will be shared in due course. We want to reassure our Showmax subscribers that they are our priority as we evolve our services to deliver a superior streaming experience,” the company added.

Background: Showmax’s push to compete with global streamers

MultiChoice Group launched Showmax in August 2015 as a pan-African streaming platform aimed at competing with global services such as Netflix, Apple TV+, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+ as they expanded into Africa.

In February 2024, the company relaunched Showmax in partnership with NBCUniversal, adopting the technology behind Peacock, the U.S. media giant’s streaming platform.

The relaunch involved significant investments aimed at improving the platform’s technology and expanding its content library to better compete with global streaming services.

MultiChoice and NBCUniversal collectively injected about $309 million in equity funding into Showmax, primarily for content development and platform upgrades.

However, the heavy investments failed to deliver the aggressive subscriber growth targets promised to investors. In its final financial results before the Canal+ takeover, MultiChoice revealed that Showmax’s trading losses had widened by 88%, while revenue from the platform declined.

Canal+ acquisition reshapes African media landscape

French media giant Canal+ finalised its acquisition of MultiChoice Group in September last year in a landmark deal valued at approximately $3 billion.

The acquisition strengthened the combined group’s position as a major global media player serving over 40 million subscribers across nearly 70 countries in Africa, Europe, and Asia.

Together, the companies employ about 17,000 people worldwide.

Canal+ said it will provide a detailed strategic update, including integration synergies and future business direction, in the first quarter of 2026.

The combined group plans to focus heavily on local content production, sports broadcasting, and digital innovation, while leveraging MultiChoice’s experience in navigating African consumer trends and regulatory environments.