MultiChoice Nigeria says it is working towards introducing a new streaming service months after discontinuing its Showmax platform, with plans to offer subscribers an improved digital entertainment experience.
Gatekeepers News reports that Kemi Omotosho, chief executive officer of MultiChoice Nigeria, disclosed this during a press briefing in Lagos, where the company unveiled new subscription packages for DStv and GOtv customers.
Omotosho described the shutdown of Showmax as a difficult decision, noting that she was personally attached to the platform because of its regular content offerings.
“Showmax was a heartbreak for a lot of us. I start my Friday and end on Saturday morning at 6 am because I am watching late on Showmax,” she said.
She explained that the decision to discontinue the service followed a strategic review which found that its operations were no longer sustainable.
“It was something that was a strategic decision to shut down. We looked at it and said this thing is not sustainable. We are now part of the global group,” she added.
However, the CEO indicated that the company was exploring options for a replacement streaming platform, saying it did not intend to abandon the digital streaming market.
“We do not want to have too many technologies in the platform, so we are doing an audit of what is the best streaming platform to launch,” she said.
According to her, the proposed service would offer features such as box sets, personalised movie recommendations and an improved viewing experience.
“We cannot leave that space empty. We need to put a product there, but it has to be the right product, with a customer experience better than Showmax. You have the Showmax experience; we cannot give you anything less than Showmax,” she said.
Omotosho confirmed that MultiChoice was working towards introducing a new digital product but declined to provide a specific launch date.
“We are definitely launching a digital product. I do not just want to say coming soon. I do not want to come to say we are launching in two months, or next month, or next week. Allow us to do that audit, to choose what is the best technology for us to use, and then we will come back to the product,” she said.
The development follows MultiChoice’s announcement in March that it would discontinue Showmax after a comprehensive review of its streaming operations.
The company attributed the decision to the platform’s substantial annual losses and the need to ensure long-term sustainability in an increasingly competitive streaming market.
MultiChoice, now owned by French media group Canal+, had previously indicated its intention to strengthen its streaming capabilities through an in-house platform and strategic partnerships.
Meanwhile, the company has announced a restructuring of its DStv and GOtv subscription packages, scheduled to take effect on November 5, 2026.
The new DStv packages will comprise Starter, Select, Sports and Premium, while GOtv subscribers will have Easy, Starter, Select and Sports options.
Omotosho said the revised packages were designed to provide subscribers with greater flexibility, improved value and entertainment options suited to their viewing preferences.
