From 1 April, there are exactly 30 days left before the African streaming service Showmax, as we know it, disappears forever. This follows MultiChoice’s confirmation that the platform will shut down at the end of April.
MultiChoice first announced the decision to discontinue Showmax on 5 March 2026, following a “comprehensive review” by the Showmax Board, one of the broader cost-saving measures by its new owner Canal+.
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Launched in 2015, Showmax entered Kenya in October 2016 and, between 2021 and 2026, invested in 30 original titles in the market. These include the police procedural Crime and Justice, Kenya’s first sci-fi series Subterranea, 2D animation Twende, football crime drama Pepeta and Single Kiasi – the longest-running Showmax Original in Kenya. These titles will now move to MultiChoice’s DStv Stream, where subscribers can continue watching them from 30 April, once Showmax shuts down.
MultiChoice has now announced that eligible Showmax subscribers will receive trial access to DStv Stream Compact from 1 April until the end of May, as part of the move to a single streaming home on DStv Stream. This move brings Showmax Originals together with live TV, sport and a broader range of entertainment in one app, offering what the company describes as a “significantly expanded content experience”, alongside features such as offline downloads and data management tools previously available on Showmax.
Showmax subscriptions will not migrate automatically. Details on how to take up the offer will be communicated directly to users via the email address linked to their Showmax account. After the trial period, qualifying customers can continue on DStv Stream Compact at a special price of Ksh 550 per month for 12 months, provided the subscription remains active throughout and payments are up to date.
The offer applies to Showmax subscribers without an active DStv subscription and who subscribe directly to Showmax. It excludes existing DStv customers who already receive Showmax content as part of their package or who add Showmax to their DStv bill; these customers will continue accessing Showmax content on DStv Stream at no additional cost. Standard pricing for DStv Stream Compact starts Ksh 4200 per month.
“Our priority is to ensure customers continue to have a home for the stories they love,” said Willington Ngwepe, CEO of MultiChoice. “By bringing thousands of hours of Showmax Originals and a deeper on-demand library into DStv Stream, we are creating a more holistic experience where live sport, news, the best international content, and award-winning local drama live together.”
Customers who choose not to move to DStv Stream may request a refund for any unused portion of their Showmax subscription, subject to standard terms and conditions. Autopayments to Showmax will stop automatically once the service is discontinued on 30 April.
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