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Events / Business / Canal+ Discontinues Showmax Streaming Service
Business service discontinuation

Canal+ Discontinues Showmax Streaming Service

Analysis based on 7 articles · First reported Mar 05, 2026 · Last updated Mar 06, 2026

Sentiment
-50
Attention
4
Articles
7
Market Impact
General
Live prominence charts, article sentiment distribution, and event development timeline available on the Ergen Dashboard
Market Impact

The discontinuation of MultiChoice — Showmax by Canal+ and MultiChoice Group reflects the intense competition and financial pressures in the global streaming market, particularly in Africa. This move could lead to a negative sentiment towards other regional streaming services and potentially benefit global giants like Netflix by reducing local competition.

Media Entertainment Telecommunications
Event Summary

Canal+, the new owner of MultiChoice Group, has decided to discontinue the MultiChoice — Showmax video streaming platform as part of a broader cost-cutting and business streamlining initiative. MultiChoice Group confirmed the decision, citing unsustainable financial losses and intense competition from global streaming services like Netflix, Apple Inc., Amazon (company), and The Walt Disney Company — Disney+. Despite a significant $309 million investment in February 2024 by MultiChoice Group and Comcast — NBCUniversal to relaunch MultiChoice — Showmax with HBO Max's technology, the platform failed to meet subscriber growth targets and saw its trading losses widen by 88%. Canal+ CEO Maxime Saada had previously stated that MultiChoice — Showmax was not a commercial success. While the service will be phased out, Canal+ plans to continue investing in premium content and technological innovation for MultiChoice Group subscribers in the African entertainment market. No job losses are expected due to the discontinuation, as per the acquisition agreement between Canal+ and MultiChoice Group.

Entities Involved
subs
MultiChoice — Showmax
MultiChoice — Showmax, a video streaming platform, is being discontinued by its parent company MultiChoice Group (now owned by Canal+) due to substantial financial losses and failure to meet subscriber growth targets.
Importance 100.0 Sentiment -100.0
stock
MultiChoice Group
MultiChoice Group, now owned by Canal+, is discontinuing its MultiChoice — Showmax streaming service due to unsustainable financial losses and a highly competitive market, despite significant past investments.
Importance 95.0 Sentiment -30.0
priv
Canal+
Canal+ is discontinuing MultiChoice — Showmax as part of a cost-cutting and streamlining effort after acquiring MultiChoice Group, aiming to improve financial discipline and optimize investments.
Importance 90.0 Sentiment -20.0
per
Maxime Saada
Maxime Saada, CEO of Canal+, described MultiChoice — Showmax as 'not a commercial success' and a significant financial burden, leading to its discontinuation.
Importance 60.0 Sentiment -10.0
subs
Comcast — NBCUniversal
Comcast — NBCUniversal partnered with MultiChoice Group to relaunch MultiChoice — Showmax in February 2024, investing $309 million, but the platform still failed to meet growth targets.
Importance 40.0 Sentiment -10.0
stock
Netflix
Netflix is mentioned as a global streaming giant that MultiChoice — Showmax struggled to compete with in the African market.
Importance 20.0 Sentiment 10.0
subs
The Walt Disney Company — Disney+
The Walt Disney Company — Disney+ is mentioned as a global streaming service that MultiChoice — Showmax aimed to compete against.
Importance 10.0 Sentiment 0.0
stock
Comcast
Comcast is the parent company of Comcast — NBCUniversal, which partnered with MultiChoice Group on MultiChoice — Showmax.
Importance 10.0 Sentiment 0.0
stock
Apple Inc.
Apple Inc. is mentioned as a global streaming service that MultiChoice — Showmax aimed to compete against.
Importance 10.0 Sentiment 0.0
stock
Amazon (company)
Amazon (company) is mentioned as a global streaming service that MultiChoice — Showmax aimed to compete against.
Importance 10.0 Sentiment 0.0
subs
Amazon — Amazon MGM Studios
Amazon — Amazon MGM Studios is mentioned as having stopped commissioning new original content in Africa, indicating a broader trend in the African streaming market.
Importance 5.0 Sentiment 0.0
Relationships
Comcast — NBCUniversal related ↔ Comcast
Netflix related ↔ Apple Inc.
Netflix related ↔ Amazon (company)
Apple Inc. related ↔ Amazon (company)
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