Showmax May Shut Down After Years Of Streaming Losses

Showmax, MultiChoice’s streaming service, might be shutting down after losing money for years. Nothing’s official yet, but insiders say the platform has struggled to compete with bigger players like Netflix and Disney+ in Africa.

What Went Wrong

Showmax launched with big ambitions to bring local and international content across Africa. Growth never really took off, and MultiChoice kept pouring money into it. Between stiff competition, high content costs, and patchy internet across some countries, making a profit was always going to be tough.

While MultiChoice’s TV platform remains strong, Showmax never really caught on the way it needed to. Even with exclusive African shows, people often went for international platforms with bigger libraries and aggressive marketing.

The Broader Context

Africa’s streaming market is growing, but it’s complicated. Payment issues, slow internet, and competition from global giants make it hard for local services. MultiChoice has tested different pricing and bundle strategies, but Showmax might just not be able to make it work.

If Showmax does close, it won’t be the first, and it won't be the last.

The platform is still live and operational across Africa (including Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Ghana, etc.), with active subscriptions, new local content drops, and ongoing marketing.

If you’ve been on the fence about Showmax, you might want to decide whether to catch up on your favorite shows before anything changes. We'll see.