MultiChoice, which was recently acquired by French-based media giant Canal+, has announced discontinuation of its Showmax streaming platform.

In a statement, the video entertainment firm says the decision to pull the plug on Showmax, which has over three million subscribers, follows a comprehensive review of its streaming activities.

“This decision was made by the Showmax board of directors and reflects the continued focus of MultiChoice, a Canal+ company, on financial discipline and investment optimisation in an increasingly competitive and capital-intensive global streaming environment,” reads the statement.

The move to discontinue the streaming service comes after Canal+ earlier this year said it was expecting billions in savings after the MultiChoice deal.

Yesterday, MultiChoice told Showmax subscribers: “This decision reflects our focus on strengthening our overall digital offering and ensuring long-term sustainability in an increasingly competitive streaming environment.”

Importantly, it adds, at the moment there will be no interruption to the current service. “You can continue streaming as usual, and no action is required from you at this time.

“We understand that this news may raise questions. Showmax subscribers are a priority for us, and we are working on plans to ensure clear communication and a smooth transition when the time comes. We will share further details well in advance, including timelines and any future steps, should they be required.

“Streaming remains central to our strategy. We will continue to invest in premium content, technology innovation and partnerships to deliver the best possible entertainment experience to our customers,” the company told viewers.

Showmax is a subscription video-on-demand platform launched in South Africa in August 2015 by MultiChoice, to compete with global streaming services and respond to growing demand for online entertainment.

The platform offers movies, series and documentaries streamed over the internet rather than through scheduled television.

After its launch, Showmax expanded across Africa and positioned itself as a regional alternative to international platforms by focusing on African audiences and locally produced content.

In 2023, MultiChoice partnered with NBCUniversal and Sky to strengthen the service, leading to a platform relaunch in 2024, with improved technology and a broader content offering.

In its statement, MultiChoice says the substantial annual losses experienced by the Showmax business have proved unsustainable.

It adds that the decision to phase out Showmax reflects the group’s focus on building a sustainable, competitive business for the long term in an increasingly demanding global streaming landscape.

According to the company, the discontinuation of Showmax services will not involve any retrenchments, and the group will engage with and support employees through various transition options.

“This evolution is also consistent with the ambition of MultiChoice, a Canal+ company, to deploy its in-house large-scale streaming platform capable of meeting the expectations of African and international consumers,” says the company.

“Canal+ will continue to invest in premium content for MultiChoice subscribers, technological innovation and strategic partnerships to consolidate its leadership in the African entertainment market.”

MultiChoice notes that further details regarding the expanded content offering and platform upgrades will be shared in due course.

The group says it wants to reassure Showmax subscribers that they remain a priority, as services evolve to deliver a “superior streaming experience”.

Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has directed Overland Airways to refund Value Added Tax (VAT) wrongly charged to passengers on flight tickets purchased in 2025.

NCAA

The directive follows a social media complaint that highlighted the airline’s application of new tax policies to older bookings, prompting NCAA intervention.

Michael Achimugu, NCAA Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, confirmed Friday that Overland Airways agreed to process refunds after receiving clarification from the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS).

The issue emerged in late January 2026 when a passenger alleged on X (formerly Twitter) that her grandmother faced an extra N11,286 VAT charge at the airport for a 2025 ticket. On January 28, NCAA summoned the airline to justify the additional payments for pre-2026 tickets.

The regulator sought NRS guidance on retroactive VAT application. NRS ruled that updated VAT rules, effective January 1, 2026, exclude tickets issued before that date.

Achimugu updated on X: “This means passengers who paid VAT at check-in in 2026 for 2025 tickets were not supposed to be charged.”

Overland Airways accepted the clarification and pledged refunds, earning NCAA commendation for cooperation. Achimugu noted the airline initially viewed charges as valid under the new framework, but NRS interpretation prevailed.

“The issue has reached a satisfactory conclusion,” he stated, reaffirming NCAA’s commitment to passenger rights and fair policy enforcement.

Affected passengers who paid extra VAT on 2025-issued Overland tickets qualify for full refunds.

MultiChoice has said that it will not implement its customary yearly price increase on DStv and GOtv subscriptions.

This is the first time the Pay-TV company will not be adjusting its price in April, as it has in previous years, signalling a clear shift in direction under its new owner, Canal+.

The decision, confirmed by David Mignot, group chief executive,MultiChoice in an interview with TechCentral, comes as the pay television operator grapples with steep subscriber losses across its markets.

For many households accustomed to annual April tariff adjustments, the announcement will be a welcome break.

Responding to questions about whether DStv prices would rise in April as they have in previous years, Mignot gave a firm response: there will be no increase.

He explained that the company’s immediate focus is on rebuilding its subscriber base, making this an unsuitable period to adjust prices upward.

He added that while there are no current plans for a price hike, the company has not completely ruled out adjustments later in the year, especially if economic conditions demand it, such as significant currency movements.

MultiChoice has historically reviewed and raised DStv subscription fees in April, often citing inflationary pressures and rising content costs. As recently as April 2025, bouquet prices were adjusted upwards by between 2.1 per cent and 7.9 per cent.

The DStv Premium package rose from R929 to R979 per month, while DStv Access, the entry-level satellite package, recorded one of the steepest increases.

This year’s pause represents a break from that pattern and forms part of a broader reset following Canal+’s acquisition of MultiChoice in September 2025.

Mignot, who brings three decades of experience in the pay television industry, summed up his mission in simple terms: halt subscriber losses and return the business to growth.

The urgency behind the move is evident in MultiChoice’s recent performance.

The group has lost 2.8 million linear broadcasting subscribers in the two years ended 31 March 2025, with roughly half of those losses occurring in South Africa.

In the financial year to end-March 2025 alone, MultiChoice shed 1.2 million subscribers, representing an eight per cent year-on-year decline and leaving the group with 14.5 million active customers.

The previous year saw an even steeper drop of 1.6 million subscribers. By June 2025, Canal+ indicated that the pace of decline had intensified further.

The financial impact has been significant. Revenue for the year ended 31 March 2025 declined by R4 billion to R52 billion, while trading profit fell sharply by 49 per cent to R4 billion.

According to Mignot, the company’s difficulties stem less from its programming slate and more from weaknesses in its commercial execution.

He argued that in subscription businesses, a churn rate of between 12 and 15 per cent annually is inevitable as customers relocate, experience job losses, adjust household budgets, or change priorities. Without attracting a comparable number of new subscribers each year, losses accumulate.

Mignot maintained that the content offering remains strong, particularly in sport and general entertainment. He cited flagship brands such as SuperSport, M-Net and Africa Magic as evidence of sustained investment in programming. However, he stressed that content strength alone cannot offset a weakening subscriber acquisition engine.

He noted that MultiChoice’s commercial machinery had performed robustly across Africa until around 2022, describing the current challenges as relatively recent.

Drawing on Canal+’s experience in French-speaking African markets, Mignot pointed out that pricing there has remained largely unchanged for close to 14 years, supported by a volume-driven approach. He described his strategy as one focused on growing subscriber numbers while maintaining profitability.

While he did not dismiss the possibility of reviewing prices downward in future, he indicated that no such decision has been taken.