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Type of site | OTT platform |
|---|---|
| Available in | English (only available) |
| Founded | 2015 |
| Headquarters | , South Africa |
| Area served |
|
| Industry | Entertainment Sub-Saharan African |
| Parent | MultiChoice (70%) NBCUniversal (30%) |
| URL | showmax |
| Registration | Required |
| Users | 2.1 million (As of 2023[update])[2] |
| Launched | 19 August 2015 |
| Current status | Active |
Showmax is a subscription-based over-the-top video on demand streaming service that launched[3] in South Africa on 19 August 2015.[4] Its majority owner is MultiChoice, which owns 70% of the Showmax group, while American conglomerate NBCUniversal owns 30% in all territories except Nigeria, where NBCUniversal holds an indirect 23.7% stake in the local subsidiary.[5] In 2023, Showmax announced a partnership with Comcast's NBCUniversal and Sky. The new Showmax launched in February 2024, with a brand-new app and streaming platform, as well as an unprecedented content slate.[6]
Showmax uses a localisation strategy[7] to take on established video on demand competitors with a focus on local content and partnerships with mobile telcos.[8][9] It has a customer base of 2.1 million subscribers Africa-wide first place in the continent's market overtaking Netflix's 1.8 million by November 2023.[2]
Showmax's engineering team was originally based in Czechia, but has since merged with Sky UK’s Global Streaming team.[10]
- ^ "Introduction". Showmax. Retrieved 20 May 2019.
- ^ a b Dosunmu, Damilare (14 February 2024). "How an African streaming service dethroned Netflix". Rest of World.
- ^ "ShowMax: we're better than Netflix".
- ^ Lautenbach, Kyle (21 August 2015). "Showmax officially launched in South Africa, here are the details". IGN Africa.
- ^ "MultiChoice and Comcast's NBCUniversal and Sky announce partnership". 2 March 2023.
- ^ "The new Showmax revolutionises streaming in Africa". 15 January 2024.
- ^ Wexler, Alexandra (24 December 2016). "In Africa, a Homegrown Rival Takes on Netflix". The Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
- ^ Alagbe, Jesusegun (21 March 2024). "How Prime Video failed so spectacularly in Africa". Rest of World.
- ^ "Showmax and MTN partner to make streaming even more affordable in South Africa". 23 January 2024.
- ^ "Meet Stefi, Engineering Manager". Sky Careers. Retrieved 28 November 2024.