MultiChoice and NBCUniversal invest R2.7 billion in Showmax
MultiChoice and NBCUniversal Media have jointly provided $145 million (approximately R2.7 billion) to Showmax Africa Holdings since 27 September 2024. This investment follows their March 2023 agreement to develop Showmax into a leading African streaming service.
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The funding, proportional to their stakes (MultiChoice 70%, NBCUniversal 30%), saw MultiChoice contribute roughly $101.5 million (R1.9 billion) and NBCUniversal $43.5 million (R808 million). An additional R14.9 million was provided by MultiChoice Group Holdings B.V.
This latest injection brings the total investment in Showmax to around R6 billion since February 2024. An earlier commitment in February 2024 outlined a combined $177 million (then R3.3 billion) investment by March 2024, delivered in three tranches.
The 2023 deal granted Showmax access to NBCUniversal’s Peacock technology and content from Sky, Universal Pictures, and NBC. The cost of NBCUniversal’s 30% stake was not disclosed.
MultiChoice relaunched Showmax on 12 February 2024, upgrading it with NBCUniversal’s Peacock platform, rebranding it, and expanding its content offering with titles from major studios like NBCUniversal, HBO, Warner Bros, and Paramount.
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Celebrating its first anniversary in February 2025, Showmax has seen significant subscriber growth, with paying customers increasing by 50% year-on-year in the six months ending 30 September 2024. MultiChoice anticipates this growth to accelerate.
Showmax has also received industry recognition, winning Best Television/Streaming Network at The National Film and TV Awards South Africa and Entertainment App of the Year at the Stuff App Awards. Its content topped JustWatch’s streaming charts in South Africa for 2024, with “Oppenheimer,” “Civil War,” “The Rookie,” and “Yellowstone” being popular titles. MultiChoice highlighted that Showmax had more titles in the top ten charts than any competitor.
The company emphasized the importance of both global and local content, noting that by the end of March 2025, Showmax will stream half of last year’s top ten global blockbusters. It is also doubling down on local content production, with 97 Showmax originals. This investment has been successful, with Showmax productions winning numerous local awards. Showmax Premier League is also a key offering, providing live sports broadcasts.
Crédito: Link de origem