African streaming giant, Showmax, which is known for bringing her audience African Originals and International hits, is launching a brand-new app in February 2024 to provide a better experience.
The relaunch of Showmax follows the announcement of a partnership with MultiChoice and International media heavyweight Comcast’s NBCUniversal and Sky Partner to create unparalleled streaming service in Africa.
In February, Showmax will be releasing a record 21 new shows from four African countries, a resuscitated international content slate, and Africa’s first unique Premier League mobile streaming plan. The Showmax Originals will span over 1300 total watch hours, with the audience exposed to an average 3.5 hours of daily local content.
The fresh content includes local book adaptations— South African Angela Makholwa’s serial killer novel Red Ink, and international co-production Catch Me A Thriller, based on the memoir of Micki Pistorius, South Africa’s first criminal profiler.
Fans of reality TV shows are set to be thrilled with Sadau Sisters, led by Nigerian actress Rahama Sadau; Widows Unveiled; Chocolate Kings, Ghana-based dating show, What Will People Say?; new seasons of popular shows like The Housewives of Durban and The Mommy Club.
An array of new drama shows are promised— university drama Wyfie; high school drama Youngins, from iEmmy nominees Tshedza Pictures; Nigerian documentary series Free Men; Igbo-based epic series Cheta’m; comedy Ekhaya Backpackers; and crime drama Koek. Also returning are new seasons of hits, Flawsome (Nigeria), ENO (Ghana), and Single Kiasi (Kenya).
In celebration of Valentine’s Day, Showmax will be releasing four films: Intlawulo and Matilda en Matthys (both from South Africa), The Counsellor (Nigeria), and Forever Yena.
Fans of international titles can expect a treat from Showmax’s romance with Comcast and MultiChoice, which enables the African streamer to constantly dish out hit content. Already in supply of three most nominated shows at Emmys and the recent Golden Globes’ Best TV Drama series winner Succession, Showmax will continue to tap from platforms like BBC, Paramount, HBO, Banijay, Sony, eOne, Warner Bros., Fremantle and Discovery.
The new Showmax will hit the ground running with 2023 global box-office hit, Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning and Spiderman: Across the Spider-Verse; Lawman: Bass Reeves, from Yellowstone co-creator Taylor Sheridan; season 2 of American military sci-fi series Halo; American procedural drama series Found; classic NBC comedies like The Office and Parks and Recreation; and Neill Blomkamp’s biographical sports drama film Gran Turismo. There’s also news that HBO’s House of the Dragon and season 2 of The Last of Us are destined for Showmax much later.
“2024 is a big year for Showmax,” claims CEO Marc Jury. “We will be kicking it off with a content slate packed with world-class entertainment from the world’s biggest brands plus more African Originals than ever before and the first ever mobile Premier League plan for Africa”.
Amidst the entertainment galore, Showmax Premier League—the continent’s first standalone Premier League Plan— will live stream goals and drama from the famous football leagues of the globe in a mobile-friendly mode. Individual mobile users from over 40 African markets will have access to all Premier League content, including live matches, highlights and in-depth analyses. Showmax Premier League is powered by SuperSport and can be put together with the Showmax Entertainment plans.
With pricing details yet to be disclosed, the new Showmax will come with three plans: Showmax Entertainment, Showmax Entertainment Mobile and Showmax Premier League Mobile.