MultiChoice has shut down its Showmax streaming platform, redirecting subscribers to DStv Stream Compact with a free one-month trial as the company consolidates its streaming services.
The move forms part of MultiChoice’s strategy to create a “single streaming home” on DStv Stream, where Showmax Originals will now be housed alongside live TV, sport and other entertainment content.
Former Showmax subscribers will receive trial access to DStv Stream Compact for one month. After the trial period, qualifying customers can continue their subscription at a special price of R99 per month for 12 months, provided the subscription remains active and payments are up to date.
“Our priority is to ensure customers continue to have a home for the stories they love,” Willington Ngwepe, chief executive of MultiChoice stated. “By bringing thousands of hours of Showmax Originals and a deeper on-demand library into DStv Stream, we are creating a more holistic experience where live sport, news, the best international content and award-winning local drama live together.”
Existing DStv Compact, Compact Plus and Premium customers will benefit from access to Showmax content on DStv Stream at no additional cost.
The platform includes features such as Watch From Start, offline downloads and data management tools.
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MultiChoice said eligibility for the trial offer will be confirmed via email sent to registered Showmax account addresses.
The consolidation represents a significant shift in MultiChoice’s streaming strategy, merging what were previously separate entertainment and live television offerings into a single application.
MultiChoice has experienced a significant decline in subscriber numbers, dropping from 20.9 million across sub-Saharan Africa in March 2024 to 14.5 million by March 2025.
The company lost 2.8 million linear subscribers over two financial years, with 1.2 million lost in the fiscal year ending March 2025 alone, representing an 8% decline.
However, while traditional satellite TV subscriptions have fallen, the company’s digital platforms showed growth, with DStv Stream increasing by 38% and Showmax by 44%, indicating a shift in viewer preferences from linear television to streaming services.
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