This strategic Showmax relaunch is in partnership with industry giants Multichoice Group, Comcast, NBC Universal, and Sky.

Showmax’s General Manager in Nigeria, Opeoluwa Filani, representing John Ugbe, the CEO, expressed gratitude during the pre-launch event, stating, “It’s an absolute delight to stand before you as we usher in a new era for Showmax in collaboration with Comcast, NBC Universal, and Sky.”

Filani highlighted the importance of this collaboration, emphasizing the creation of a new Showmax that reflects the changing environment of streaming video on demand services. He also mentioned the upcoming February launch, promising a brand-new look, an innovative app, and an entirely revamped product supported by cutting-edge technology.

“Our steadfast dedication lies in amplifying indigenous content creation, championing narratives that authentically represent Africa’s rich cultural heritage,” said Filani, underlining Showmax’s commitment to local content.

Filani detailed Showmax’s journey, which aims to elevate Nigeria’s storytelling to a global audience. He highlighted the platform’s role as a pioneer, empowering local creators and showcasing their talents to the world through a diverse range of Nigerian originals and culturally relevant shows.

To assert Showmax’s commitment to local content, Filani revealed an extensive library of over 80,000 hours of content, emphasizing the platform’s focus in driving the surge of streaming video on demand in the region.

“We have an expansive African operational footprint that benefits Showmax from our fiscal offices to sales forces, marketing teams, regulatory, finance, and legal teams,” Filani stated, emphasizing Showmax’s strong position in the market.

The revelation of collaborations with industry giants like HBO, was noted to facilitate a surge in international content. Filani also mentioned upcoming live sports offerings tailored to the audience of football lovers in Nigeria.

“With over 50 million smartphones in the hands of Nigerians, our new Showmax production is set to address a substantial market,” Filani said.

The partnership with the English Premier League was a major highlight, with Showmax introducing a mobile-only subscription that grants access to all 386 games for an affordable monthly fee, starting from February 23, 2024.

CEO of the Premier League, Richard Masters, acknowledged the strength of the partnership with Multichoice and expressed excitement about the new initiative, stating, “The Premier League in your pocket with a new price point to watch all Premier League matches on mobile phones.”

Arinola Shobande, Head of Marketing for Showmax Nigeria, added a personal touch to the announcement, emphasizing the exceptional features of the new Showmax. She highlighted the platform’s curated content, improved search functionality, and optimized streaming experience, promising users the ability to stream for 24 hours with just one gig of data.

“This product is not just about streaming on demand; it’s a new experience. It’s all about falling in love with content all over again. This is Showmax. Welcome to the new era,” Shobande exclaimed.

Shobande highlighted the two-year journey that led to the creation of an exceptional product, noting its accessibility to both high and low-income earners. “We didn’t rebrand because the product was broken; it was already good. We wanted to elevate it into something exceptional,” she asserted.

The cornerstone of this rebrand is the new Showmax logo, an identity beyond mere colors and symbols. The orange colour is a gradient that describes how the sun rises and you can only see that in Africa.

Shobande explained that the logo tells a story, portraying how Showmax connects Africans to the content they love. She noted that the rebrand is a result of extensive research and collaboration with people from all over Africa.

The mission at Showmax, as stated by Shobande, is to offer an effortless platform providing affordable access to a wide array of content. With prices as low as N1200, Showmax aims to cater to hardworking Africans, allowing them to enjoy quality entertainment without breaking the bank. Shobande expressed gratitude to the technical team and customers who actively participated in trials, stating the extensive effort that went into creating the new app.

Dr. Busola Tejumola, Executive Head of Content and Channels, West Africa, MultiChoice, then took the stage to shed light on the exciting content lineup for Showmax’s relaunch. Tejumola announced the release of 21 new titles across Africa, with Nigeria set to receive five. She highlighted shows like “Chetam,” an epic drama series, and “Free Men,” a documentary series on the apprenticeship system in the East.

The content revelation continued with insights into Showmax’s impressive production statistics. Tejumola revealed that Showmax has produced over 1300 hours of originals, a 150% increase from the previous year. She emphasized the impact on local economies and communities, showcasing Showmax’s commitment to providing diverse and engaging content.

During a panel session, Showmax’s primary focus on the African market was discussed, touching on the strategic relaunch, emphasizing a commitment to delivering the best service, technology, and content for African viewers. Plans to potentially expand to other markets were hinted at, but the immediate focus remained on Africa.

A notable highlight of the panel session was the clarification on Showmax’s decision to make Premier League content available exclusively on mobile devices. The emphasis was on Africa being a mobile-first continent, with over 450 million mobile phones. The move aims to make the EPL accessible to a broader audience, aligning with the evolving consumer behavior.

The executives addressed questions regarding Showmax’s standalone nature, subscription models, and competition. They reaffirmed Showmax’s focus on providing quality content at affordable prices, speaking on the hyperlocal strategy and partnerships that secure access to extensive international content libraries.

As the event concluded, Showmax confirmed that the new app will be available for download from January 23rd, existing users will maintain initial login details, with a seamless migration process. By February 12, all 44 countries will have migrated into the new Showmax app.

The appointment is a pivotal one as it makes Filani the first ever General Manager in Nigeria for the streaming app which has continued to expand its presence and investment in the country. 

Announcing Filani’s appointment, Yolisa Phahle, the CEO of MultiChoice Connected Video, said, “We’ve witnessed unprecedented growth in our paying subscriber base over the past year, and it’s become even more important to have a dedicated team at the helm of affairs of Showmax in one of our most important markets. Opeoluwa brings many years of relevant experience and a refreshing perspective to business development. His appointment couldn’t have come at a better time as this is a defining period for our business in Nigeria. I am confident that with his experience and vision, Opeoluwa will drive Showmax Nigeria to even greater heights.” 

Opeoluwa Filani has over 16 years of senior management experience, working in various roles in Sales and Marketing.

Before joining Showmax, he was the Country Sales Director at JCDeaux – a multinational Out-of-Home advertising company, where he led the Sales and Marketing department. 

“These are exciting times for the SVoD industry in Africa and Showmax is right at the centre of this emerging sector. Showmax’s commitment to developing a local Nigerian strategy I believe is right for this fast-changing environment and I am happy to be a part of it. I look forward to working with the team and building on the amazing work that has been done over the past couple of years,” said Filani. 

In his role as General Manager, Filani will oversee the Showmax Nigeria operations, providing strategic direction and implementing programs to ensure attainment of business growth and profit objectives. 

Opeoluwa Filani holds an Executive MBA from the Warwick Business School, UK, an MSc in International Marketing Management from Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen Scotland with certifications from Harvard Business School in Sales and Distribution. 

The appointment follows a year that has seen Showmax launch numerous Nigerian originals, including the record-breaking Real Housewives of Lagos and the Afrobeats docu-series, Journey of the Beats, with many more slated in the coming months. Across Africa, Showmax has released more than 40 original African series and movies in the last year. . Showmax is also the home of HBO in Africa, streaming blockbuster movies and series including the Game of Thrones prequel, House of the Dragon.   

Showmax Pro gives subscribers access to big football titles including the English Premier League, LaLiga, Serie A and UEFA Europa League courtesy SuperSport. Showmax Pro will also stream live the 2022 FIFA World Cup.