The company said eligible users will get free access to DStv Stream Compact from April 1 until the end of May. After that, they can continue at R99 ($5.90) a month for 12 months. The standard price is R299 ($17.83).

The offer is aimed at keeping viewers as Showmax closes on April 30. From that date, all content, including Showmax Originals, will sit on DStv Stream.

Subscribers must sign up for DStv Stream, create a new profile and follow instructions sent to their registered email. MultiChoice said the process takes less than five minutes, but it still requires users to opt in.

That step could affect how many people make the switch. The company has not shared current Showmax subscriber numbers, so it is not known how many users may drop off.

The R99 price is lower than several competitors. It sits below Netflix’s standard plan in South Africa and includes live sport through SuperSport, which other platforms do not offer. DStv Stream also combines live TV, films, series and children’s content in one app.

Still, the discount lasts for a year. After 12 months, the price returns to R299 a month. That jump could test how many customers stay on beyond the promotional period.

The offer comes with conditions. Subscribers must keep their accounts active and payments up to date throughout the 12 months. If payments lapse, the price resets to the standard rate.

The promotion is open to Showmax users who do not already have an active DStv subscription and who pay for Showmax directly. Existing DStv Compact, Compact Plus and Premium customers are excluded, as they already have access to Showmax content on DStv Stream at no extra cost.

Customers who decide not to move can request a refund for any unused portion of their Showmax subscription. Automatic payments will stop once the platform shuts down.

MultiChoice is also using the transition to push new and returning content on DStv Stream. These include the true-crime series The People vs VBS, available from 1 April, the final episode of Die Kantoor on 14 April, and a live broadcast of the Soweto Derby on 26 April.

The company disclosed the plan on Wednesday as it reported stronger-than-expected core earnings for 2025, trusting Africa’s long-term growth potential despite competition in the region’s media and streaming market.

Canal+ said earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) reached 527 million euros ($613 million) in 2025, beating its earlier forecast of 515 million euros.

The combined Canal+ and MultiChoice group generated 8.665 billion euros in revenue during the year and now serves 42.3 million subscribers across operations in Europe, Africa and Asia.

Africa expansion plan

Following its takeover of MultiChoice, Canal+ said it would roll out a 100-million-euro investment programme aimed at strengthening the business in African markets.

The plan includes improving content offerings, simplifying subscription packages and expanding the company’s sales network by recruiting more than 1,000 sales agents across the continent.

The hiring drive comes as MultiChoice’s subscriptions decline. The company’s subscriber base fell from 14.9 million to 14.4 million in 2025, due to economic challenges in key markets and competition from global streaming platforms.

Canal+ CEO Maxime Saada has previously described Africa as a major growth opportunity for the group, saying the company intends to build on MultiChoice’s strong regional presence.

Showmax shutdown and restructuring

Earlier this week, Canal+ confirmed it would discontinue Showmax, the streaming platform previously operated by MultiChoice, after the service struggled to reach profitability.

Launched in 2015, Showmax was created as a pan-African streaming service designed to compete with international platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney+.

However, losses from the service increased in recent years, with MultiChoice reporting an 88% jump in trading losses before the takeover.

Alongside the expansion effort, Canal+ said it would introduce a voluntary severance programme for certain support roles at MultiChoice as part of a broader restructuring plan.

For 2026, Canal+ expects moderate organic revenue growth, with adjusted EBIT projected to reach about 565 million euros.

The company also forecast cash flow from operations above 500 million euros and an adjusted EBIT margin exceeding 9%.

While MultiChoice’s revenue may decline slightly this year, Canal+ said profitability is expected to improve, with adjusted EBIT forecast to rise to around 170 million euros.

Canal+ completed its $3 billion acquisition of MultiChoice in September 2025, creating one of the largest pay-TV groups operating across Africa, Europe and Asia.

The company said it will present a detailed integration and growth strategy for the combined business in a strategic update expected in early 2026.