Showmax is promising a brand-new look, new app, and entirely new product suite when it relaunches in the African market in February.
A new partnership between Multichoice and Comcast’s NBCUniversal and Sky was announced last year.
It means that February will see the release of a record 21 Showmax Originals from four African countries, a revamped international content slate, and the continent’s first standalone Premier League mobile streaming plan. More than 1,300 hours of new Showmax Originals are slated for release during 2024.
The diverse launch lineup includes adaptations of two local bestsellers: Angela Makholwa’s serial killer thriller Red Ink, and international co-production Catch Me A Killer, based on the memoir of Micki Pistorius, South Africa’s first serial killer profiler.
Comcast will ensure a pipeline of content from Universal Pictures, NBC, Peacock, Sky, DreamWorks Animation and Telemundo. Agreements have also been renewed with Banijay, BBC, eOne, Fremantle, HBO, ITV, Lionsgate, Paramount, Sony and Warner Bros. Discovery.
“2024 is a big year for Showmax,” says CEO Marc Jury. “We will be kicking it off with a content slate packed with world-class entertainment from the world’s biggest brands plus more African Originals than ever before and the first ever mobile Premier League plan for Africa.”
Showmax Premier League will live stream all 380 matches to both set-tops and mobile devices in over 40 local markets. In addition to exclusive live access to every Premier League match, there is also in-depth analyses, highlights and an extensive library of Premier League content on their mobile devices. The Premier League is being shown as part of an agreement with Mutichoice’s Supersport.
The new Showmax will have three plans: Showmax Entertainment, Showmax Entertainment Mobile and Showmax Premier League Mobile. Details on pricing and launch dates will be revealed soon.
