MultiChoice has confirmed that it will discontinue its Showmax streaming service in the near future, following what it described as a comprehensive review of its streaming operations. The announcement was made on Thursday, 5 March 2026, and comes months after Canal+ took control of MultiChoice.
The company has not yet provided a shutdown date, but it has told customers that there is currently no interruption to the service and that subscribers can continue streaming as normal while further details, timelines, and next steps are finalised.
What MultiChoice and Canal+ have said
In an official statement carried on Canal+ Group’s website, MultiChoice said the Showmax board took the decision after the review, and that “the substantial annual losses experienced by the Showmax business have proved unsustainable.”
MultiChoice also framed the move as part of tighter capital discipline in a global streaming environment that requires heavy ongoing investment.
On the customer side, BusinessTech reported that MultiChoice told subscribers they could “continue streaming as usual” and that no action was required “at this time.”
Jobs and staffing impact
MultiChoice has indicated that the decision will not involve retrenchments, and that it plans to engage and support affected employees through transition options. Reuters similarly reported that Canal+ said the decision would not involve job cuts.
Why this matters for South Africa’s streaming market
Showmax has been one of the most prominent locally rooted streaming brands in South Africa, competing in an increasingly crowded market that includes global players with large content budgets.
TimesLIVE reported that MultiChoice has spent more than R5 billion on Showmax over the life of the project, and that the service was first launched in 2015.
In recent years, MultiChoice’s streaming push included the creation of a new Showmax group in 2023, which TimesLIVE reported was structured as 70% owned by MultiChoice and 30% by Comcast-owned NBCUniversal, using Peacock technology.
That structure highlighted how seriously MultiChoice had taken streaming as a strategic battleground. The decision to discontinue Showmax now signals a sharp reset of that strategy under Canal+ ownership, with a stronger emphasis on controlling losses and simplifying the group’s video-on-demand approach.
A shift toward a new platform
While the word “shutdown” has dominated headlines, MultiChoice and Canal+ have also pointed to a broader platform transition.
BusinessTech reported that Canal+ plans to deploy its own in-house large-scale streaming platform aimed at meeting the expectations of African and international consumers.
In the Canal+ statement, the group said it would continue investing in premium content, technology innovation, and strategic partnerships, and that further details on “expanded content offering and platform upgrades” would be shared in due course.
For consumers, the key takeaway is that the company is signalling evolution rather than an immediate “switch off,” even though the end state is the discontinuation of Showmax as it exists today.
What subscribers should do now
MultiChoice has told customers no action is required “at this time,” but South Africans who pay for Showmax can take a few practical steps to stay prepared and avoid billing confusion when the timeline is announced.
- Watch for official notices from Showmax or MultiChoice about dates, migration steps, or account changes.
- Check where the subscription is billed (direct card, app store billing, or bundled services) so any future cancellation or migration is handled correctly.
- Keep account contact details up to date (email and cellphone number) so service notices are received quickly.
- Avoid third-party “support” links shared on social media, especially if they ask for passwords or payment details.
MultiChoice has said it will share details well in advance, which should include timelines and any steps required from users.
What happens to Showmax content and originals
At this stage, MultiChoice has not published a full, public plan for how Showmax’s catalogue will be handled, or what the final viewing destination will be for existing subscribers once the service is discontinued.
However, Canal+ has stated it will keep investing in premium content for MultiChoice subscribers and will communicate expanded content offerings and platform upgrades later. That suggests content remains central to the group’s future model, even as Showmax as a standalone service is retired.
Broader industry pressure behind the decision
The economics of streaming have become more difficult globally, particularly for services that do not have very large international scale. In its statement, MultiChoice explicitly pointed to the “capital-intensive” nature of the streaming environment and the difficulty of sustaining large annual losses.
TimesLIVE also reported that since taking control, Canal+ has been working on how it will consolidate video-on-demand services to compete more effectively with well-funded international rivals, and has indicated it is looking at a single platform approach.
For South African viewers, this is likely to translate into one of two outcomes once details are published: either a migration to a new Canal+ backed streaming platform, or a tighter integration between streaming and other MultiChoice offerings.
What to watch next
With no shutdown date yet announced, the next developments will matter most for paying subscribers and for local producers who relied on Showmax commissioning.
Key updates to monitor include:
- The formal discontinuation timeline and when subscriptions will stop renewing.
- Whether accounts are migrated to a new platform automatically or require manual action.
- How pricing will work, especially for users on discounted or promotional packages.
- Where key local titles will be available once the platform changes.
- Device support, including whether apps on smart TVs and older devices will need updates or replacement.
For now, MultiChoice’s message is that Showmax remains available while the transition is planned, and that the company will publish the next steps ahead of any changes.
