Showmax is shutting down. But DStv will not be affected. Your decoder, your live channels, and your DStv subscription will not suddenly stop working today.
What is ending is the Showmax streaming platform in its current form. Here, we cover more details about why Showmax is shutting down and what it means for you.
Details about the Showmax shutdown
MultiChoice said on March 5, 2026, that Showmax will be discontinued. However, this will happen in the near future after a review of its streaming business.
The company also told subscribers there will be no immediate interruption. So you can keep streaming for now while it prepares the next step.
What changes for you right now as a DStv viewer
As of now, not much changes on your screen if you mainly watch DStv through a decoder. Your live channels still run, your package still exists, and there is no official statement saying DStv channels are being switched off because of the Showmax decision.
The immediate disruption is mainly if you use Showmax as a separate streaming service. Also, this is the case if it is part of how they follow on-demand content.
So if you are paying for DStv and using Showmax on the side, the main effect today is uncertainty rather than instant loss. You can keep watching for now, but you should expect a future migration, a platform switch, or a change in how on-demand content gets bundled.
Why Canal+ pulled the plug
The official reason is money. Canal+ and MultiChoice said the annual losses at Showmax had become unsustainable. Since the takeover, they have been pursuing major savings.
That does not mean Showmax had no audience. In fact, MultiChoice reported in 2025 that Showmax’s paying customer base had grown 44% after the relaunch, and the company said it had pushed hard into originals and exclusive content.
The problem is that growth still does not beat the cost of running and feeding a serious streaming platform in a very tough market.
Could DStv also shrink?
This is where you need to separate what is confirmed from what is possible.
What is confirmed is that Canal+ wants tighter financial discipline and has made a big savings drive part of the MultiChoice story. What is not yet confirmed is exactly which channels, rights, or packages might change.
Still, you should prepare for the possibility of fewer channels, less content, and more pressure on expensive rights over time as Canal+ looks for savings. Here is a breakdown:
Sports
As mentioned, there is no proof yet that SuperSport is about to collapse. But you do have reason to pay attention.
Local African originals
This will be where the emotional hit feels strongest. Showmax had become a major home for African originals and local commissions, and even in 2025, MultiChoice was still pointing to dozens of originals as part of the service’s push.
The shutdown is already sparking concern among producers and creatives. This is because Showmax is one of the few large buyers focused on African streaming stories.
What you should do now
The best move is to stay calm and watch for official emails. You do not need to cancel your DStv package just because Showmax is going away.
Also, you do not need to panic that your decoder will go dark. But if Showmax is a big part of how you watch, you should expect instructions later on about billing, access, or where that on-demand library is moving.