According to Nigerian Entertainment Today, MultiChoice has officially announced plans to discontinue its streaming service, Showmax, after 11 years of operation. The decision comes as part of a broader corporate restructuring following the takeover by French media giant Canal+, which is looking to streamline its digital offerings across Africa.
The move marks a significant shift in the African streaming landscape, where Showmax had long been positioned as the primary local rival to Netflix. MultiChoice cited a comprehensive review of its streaming strategy and the need for cost-cutting measures as the primary drivers behind the shutdown.
Subscribers across Nigeria and the rest of the continent are now awaiting details on the migration process. It is expected that much of the local content and exclusive Nollywood titles previously hosted on Showmax will be integrated into Canal+’s existing platforms or a new unified service.
* Vanguard Nigeria: “MultiChoice shuts down Showmax after 11 years… the decision followed a review of streaming.”
* The Nation Newspaper: “Canal+ to discontinue Showmax amid MultiChoice takeover… as part of cost-cutting measures.”
Echotitbits take:
The death of Showmax is a “end of an era” moment for Nollywood’s digital distribution. While Canal+ brings deep pockets, the loss of a dedicated homegrown platform might worry local producers who relied on Showmax for licensing. Watch for a massive rebranding effort from Canal+ as they try to retain the millions of users currently on the Showmax database.
Source: Arise — https://www.arise.tv/showmax-to-shut-down-after-11-years-as-multichoice-moves-to-restructure-streaming-business/ March 5, 2026
Photo Credit: Arise
