Canal+ has announced plans to shut down its streaming platform Showmax, home to Flawsome, WURA, Crime and Justice Lagos, and messy reality TV shows, marking a major first decision after last year’s acquisition.
Multichoice stated in an email sent to subscribers that “there will be no interruption” with the current service and “no action is required” for the time being.
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The decision to shut down Showmax, once a global platform as wide as 65 countries in 2016, also comes after corporate changes within MultiChoice. French media company Canal+ completed its acquisition of MultiChoice in September 2025 in a deal worth more than $2 billion, giving the company full control of the African broadcaster and its platforms, including DStv, GOtv and Showmax.
Following the takeover, Canal+ began reviewing MultiChoice’s businesses as part of a broader restructuring strategy. Reports say the company is focusing on reducing costs and reorganising its streaming operations across Africa, which led to the decision to discontinue Showmax. The company also operates its own streaming service, myCanal, widely used in Francophone countries.
Showmax, which launched in 2015 under the South African pay-TV company MultiChoice, was created as a subscription video-on-demand platform aimed at competing with global streaming services while prioritising African audiences and content. The platform built a large catalogue that combined international titles with African films and series while investing in local productions and commissioning original content from Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya and other markets.
Showmax became a digital home for content from MultiChoice channels, regularly streaming series originally broadcast on Africa Magic. Some of these titles included popular Nigerian productions such as The Real Housewives of Lagos, Wura (set to return with a new season on Africa Magic this month), Crime and Justice Lagos, as well as their first Nigerian original series Diiche. It also served as the go-to African streamer for HBO, Sony and NBCUniversal titles.
In 2024, MultiChoice attempted a major relaunch with an upgraded version of the service. The updated platform used streaming technology developed by NBCUniversal for its Peacock streaming system, alongside a redesigned app and improved streaming experience.
Further details on the shutdown timeline and what it means for existing subscribers are expected to be announced soon.
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