MultiChoice CEO Calvo Mawela said streaming has changed the broadcasting landscape, with linear TV stagnating and streaming showing strong growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To ensure that MultiChoice is not left behind, it is investing heavily in its Showmax and DStv Stream products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe know that the future is in streaming. We are seeing in the United States and Europe that linear broadcasting will stagnate,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said with increased broadband penetration across Africa, the growth in streaming will also happen on the continent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To ensure MultiChoice becomes a big player in the streaming market, it partnered with Comcast to launch Showmax 2.0 in February 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf you are using Showmax, you would have seen the user interface improvement, the slickness of the product, and how well it works,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou can compare Showmax 2.0 to any competitor, including global platforms, and it holds its own.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the first half of the 2025 financial year, MultiChoice invested R16 billion in Showmax to position it for growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mawela said this investment was required to position MultiChoice for the future and capitalise on the streaming revolution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To further drive Showmax\u2019s growth, it is enhancing its content line-up, bedding down distribution partnerships, and expanding payment channel integrations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
MultiChoice\u2019s results for the first half of the 2025 financial year showed that the company is progressing well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Showmax delivered a 30% year-on-year increase in paying subscribers, or 50% when excluding discontinued services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taking on Netflix is difficult, so Showmax focuses heavily on local content, an area where MultiChoice has a significant advantage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The initial signs are encouraging. Showmax Originals continued to excel, engaging viewers and earning local and international accolades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Showmax local content received over 118 South African Film and Television Awards nominations, the most of any streaming platform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is also enhancing its sports offering following an encouraging trial to bring other sports content to the Premier League product during the off-season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Showmax added the Premier Soccer League season in South Africa to the Premier League mobile-only product in September 2024 at no additional cost to our customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
MultiChoice is also enhancing Showmax\u2019s operations and improving its on-the-ground presence and sales networks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
MultiChoice has a great network and expertise in Africa, built up through its DStv offering, from which Showmax can now benefit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis also allows Showmax to focus on payment, product and customer journey improvements with Moment, Peacock, and DStv, respectively,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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