South Africa’s streaming landscape is about to change once again. After years of investment and mounting losses, MultiChoice has confirmed that Showmax will shut down, with the Canal+ streaming app stepping in as its replacement across the country and other African markets.
The move signals a major shift in strategy for the pay TV giant and its new parent company, Canal+, as the group attempts to reset its digital ambitions and compete more effectively in Africa’s rapidly evolving streaming space.
While the transition is expected to happen gradually, MultiChoice says subscribers should not experience disruptions as the change unfolds.
Showmax Losses Finally Catch Up
The decision to close Showmax follows years of financial pressure. According to Canal+ CEO Maxime Saada, the platform had become too costly to sustain, with losses continuing to grow despite efforts to turn things around.
Over the past three years alone, Showmax reportedly accumulated R8.7 billion in losses. The figures paint a stark picture of the platform’s struggle to gain traction against global streaming giants.
Those losses included:
R1.2 billion in 2023
R2.6 billion in 2024
R4.9 billion in 2025
MultiChoice had initially hoped the financial bleeding would slow by 2025. Instead, the losses accelerated, forcing leadership to reconsider the platform’s future.
Saada confirmed that Canal+ reached an agreement with Comcast, MultiChoice’s streaming partner, to shut down Showmax as quickly as possible.
Canal+ App To Replace Showmax
The replacement will come in the form of the Canal+ over-the-top streaming platform, which is already operating in several French-speaking African countries.
Saada said the goal is to give former Showmax users access to a stronger and more sustainable streaming ecosystem.
The Canal+ app will gradually roll out across markets where MultiChoice operates, including South Africa.
For local audiences, the change could mean a broader library of content and tighter integration with the company’s existing services.
Integration With DStv Stream
Canal+ Africa CEO David Mignot says another key part of the strategy is ensuring that Showmax content does not simply disappear.
Instead, much of the platform’s content and functionality could migrate to DStv Stream, allowing subscribers to continue watching shows and movies through MultiChoice’s existing digital services.
This approach aims to reduce disruption for current subscribers while consolidating streaming offerings under a single ecosystem.
A New Chapter For MultiChoice’s Streaming Strategy
Showmax was once positioned as MultiChoice’s flagship streaming project, designed to help the company compete with global players such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.
Its shutdown marks the end of an ambitious experiment that struggled to balance content investment with sustainable growth.
For Canal+, the focus now shifts toward building a single, scalable streaming platform across Africa, with the Canal+ app expected to play a central role.
For South African viewers, the change signals the start of a new era in the continent’s streaming wars, one where the battle for audiences is far from over.
