MultiChoice Nigeria Weighs New Streaming Service After Showmax

In Short

MultiChoice Nigeria says it plans to launch a new streaming service months after shutting down Showmax.

CEO Kemi Omotosho said the company is reviewing what technology to use and did not give a timeline.

What Happened

MultiChoice Nigeria CEO Kemi Omotosho said the company is working toward reintroducing a streaming service after discontinuing Showmax.

At a press briefing in Lagos, Omotosho called the Showmax shutdown a “heartbreak for a lot of us”. She said she spent hours watching Showmax because of its constant content delivery, but added that management decided to shut it down because “it is not sustainable”.

Omotosho said MultiChoice is now “part of the global group” and is carrying out an audit to decide “the best streaming platform to launch”. She said the goal is to avoid “too many technologies in the platform”.

She outlined what the company wants from a future streaming product, including “full streaming technology” that supports box sets, delivers a “great experience”, and gives movie recommendations. Omotosho also said MultiChoice does not want to leave the streaming segment empty, but any new product must deliver “a customer experience better than Showmax”.

Omotosho said she could not share a launch timeline.

Why It Matters

Showmax had been MultiChoice’s dedicated streaming platform, so a replacement would shape how the company competes for viewers who prefer apps over traditional pay TV.

Omotosho’s comments suggest MultiChoice is betting that streaming remains core to its customer offering, but wants to pick a technology base that it believes will be sustainable and improve on the Showmax experience.

Separately, MultiChoice unveiled new subscription packages set to go live on November 5. DStv users will get Starter, Select, Sports, and Premium packages, while GOtv customers will get Easy, Starter, Select, and Sports. Omotosho said the company’s focus is “giving subscribers better value and access to the entertainment they love,” and that the packages were reimagined to reflect how customers watch today.