{"id":78966,"date":"2026-04-02T02:19:21","date_gmt":"2026-04-02T02:19:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gtechbooster.com\/?p=78966"},"modified":"2026-04-02T02:19:23","modified_gmt":"2026-04-02T02:19:23","slug":"showmax-folding-into-dstv-stream","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gtechbooster.com\/showmax-folding-into-dstv-stream\/","title":{"rendered":"Showmax folding into DSTV stream"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This is happening right now and it’s a big deal for African streaming. Canal+ is ending the loss-making Showmax, which it said could have destroyed MultiChoice. The platform shuts down on 30 April 2026, with Showmax content temporarily moving to DStv Stream. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Showmax Shutsdown<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The timeline<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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31st<\/sup> March, 2026 was the final day for subscription renewals and voucher redemptions. From 1st<\/sup> April, no new subscriptions or renewals are possible. Existing subscribers can continue watching until their subscription expires or end of April – whichever comes first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Existing account holders without active subscriptions have received a free 1 month DSTV streaming till the end of the month of April.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What happens to the content<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A dedicated Showmax section has been introduced on DStv Stream from April 1, featuring celebrated originals alongside fan-favourite content \u2014 including WURA, Flawsome, Cheta M, The Wife, and Single Kiasi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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DSTV Stream absorbs showmax<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What it means for subscribers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Eligible Showmax subscribers get trial access to DStv Stream Compact until end of May, with the option to continue at R99\/month for 12 months \u2014 up to 75% off standard pricing. Customers who choose not to move may request a refund for any unused portion of their Showmax subscription.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why it failed – the honest numbers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

MultiChoice’s 2025 annual results revealed an 88% increase in Showmax’s operating losses, escalating from $154 million to $291 million. Even a high-profile relaunch in early 2024 backed by a $309 million investment from Comcast’s NBCUniversal, leveraging Peacock’s technology, failed to reverse its fortunes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The pricing sting for existing Showmax users<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A regular Showmax Entertainment subscription cost around $5.88\/month, while a streaming-only DStv Compact subscription costs $17.77\/month \u2014 meaning standalone Showmax users now face the choice of paying significantly more for DStv Compact or cancelling entirely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The offer to move over<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What’s next after DStv Stream<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The content will eventually move again \u2014 once Canal+ rolls out its own Canal+ streaming app in South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa within a few months. Canal+ is also exploring bundling Netflix into DStv subscriptions, similar to a partnership already running in Francophone Africa since July 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In short \u2014 Showmax lost the streaming wars on the continent, the parent company Canal+ pulled the plug, and the content is being absorbed into DStv Stream as a transitional step before eventually landing in a Canal+ super-app. The big losers are budget-conscious subscribers who relied on Showmax’s lower price point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More Information \u2139<\/h6>\n\n\n\n