Parliament Looking To Intervene In Canal+'s MultiChoice Decision To Discontinue Showmax

Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies is planning a special oversight visit to the broadcasting sector following Canal+'s announcement to discontinue its unprofitable streaming service, Showmax.

This decision comes after Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) MP Sixolise Gcilishe contacted the committee chairperson, Khusela Sangoni-Diko, regarding the shutdown. Launched by MultiChoice in 2015, Showmax has been a platform for African films and TV series, available in at least 44 African countries.

"MultiChoice, part of CANAL+ SA ... today announces the forthcoming discontinuation of the Showmax service," Canal+ said in a statement.

"The substantial annual losses experienced by the Showmax business have proved unsustainable."

Gcilishe had requested that MultiChoice (Pty) Ltd provide an update to the committee on the termination of the Showmax platform, the associated job losses, and the prospects for local productions.

“This decision raises significant concerns relevant to our committee's responsibilities, particularly regarding the support of the local creative industry, job retention, and adherence to transformation goals within our digital economy. 

“Showmax has been crucial in contributing to our national identity and pushing the South African narrative by providing a platform for local producers, actors, writers and technical teams,” Gcilishe said.

“Any significant corporate changes by a major entity like MultiChoice will likely result in job losses, affecting not just the company but also the wider creative sector, including writers, directors, editors, and freelance workers reliant on streaming services for income.”

Gcilishe asked that MultiChoice be prepared to address the following specific topics in their presentation:

• the definitive timeline and rationale for ending or restructuring Showmax,

• a thorough assessment of the potential job losses, both at MultiChoice and within the wider film and television industry, and

• The future of existing Showmax Original productions and their accessibility to South African viewers.

Sangoni-Diko said that the matters Gcilishe raised are significant to the stability of South Africa’s creative economy and the sustainability of local content production.

“It is for this reason that the committee had already initiated engagements with key entities with a view to inviting them to account to Parliament.

"The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) and the Competition Commission are scheduled to brief the committee on 17 March 2026 on the regulatory conditions, public interest commitments, and compliance requirements linked to the final approval of the Canal+ acquisition of MultiChoice,” Sangoni-Diko said.

“Following this, the committee is working on scheduling a special oversight visit to the broadcasting sector on 31 March and 1 April 2026, covering eTV, MultiChoice, and other commercial broadcasters,” she said.

Channel Premiere: Impilo Kasuman Coming Soon To Star Khanya

Star Khanya, a Zulu dubbed Bollywood entertainment channel operated by JioStar will be rolling out a new series called Impilo Kasuman. Known in India as Suman Indori, it will broadcast on the channel daily at 6PM CAT.

Synopsis for Impilo Kasuman 

The central plot revolves around Suman's reluctant marriage to Teerth Mittal (Zain Imam), an ambitious politician from a powerful family. 

Suman’s brother, Rishi, is a loyal supporter of Teerth. During a protest, Rishi is critically injured and, as a deathbed request, begs Teerth to marry Suman to ensure her protection. Teerth, originally set to marry his sister-in-law’s sister, Kritika, for political leverage, agrees to the marriage to preserve his public image and out of a sense of duty to Rishi. 

Once Suman enters the Mittal household, she faces intense opposition from Devika (Anita Hassanandani), the manipulative elder daughter-in-law (jethani). 

Suman eventually suspects that her brother's death was not an accident but a murder orchestrated by Devika and her associates. Much of the series follows her efforts to find clues and expose Devika’s true nature. 

Based on the Colors Kannada's TV series Kendasampige, Impilo Kasuman was broadcast on Colors TV on 3 September 2024 and concluded on 27 April 2025 after 236 episodes.

It starred Ashnoor Kaur as Suman Sharma Mittal, Zain Imam as Teerth Mittal, Anita Hassanandani as Devika Gupta Mittal, Sai Ballal as Chandrakant Mittal, Nishigandha Wad as Geetanjali Mittal and Aman Sharma as Gururaj Mittal.

Canal+ And SuperSport Renew Distribution Partnership With SA Rugby

SA Rugby and the CANAL+ Group have discussed and planned a continued partnership with SuperSport, Africa’s leading sports broadcaster, following fruitful and productive engagements in Johannesburg this week.

SA Rugby executives met with their CANAL+ Group counterparts at the MultiChoice offices in Randburg, Johannesburg, where both entities discussed strategic plans to bring rugby fans and viewers closer to the game through the existing broadcast partnership.

The two organisations met for a series of information-sharing sessions to better understand each entity's long-term strategy and move forward with a common purpose and goal as partners in delivering the best possible rugby viewing experience to viewers and DStv subscribers across the continent. These include the immersive experiences as well as storytelling, which brings viewers more of the sports content they desire beyond the live action.

With SA Rugby preparing to stage some of the most exciting rugby matches in history starting in 2026 – across Springbok men, women, junior teams, as well as sevens – the partnership with SuperSport – part of the CANAL+ Group, ensures that millions of rugby followers will get to participate in the excitement.

SA Rugby CEO, Rian Oberholzer, said: “SuperSport has been at our side for decades, bringing rugby fans all the action, including Rugby World Cups, and we’re excited to continue this journey with them. We had very fruitful discussions with CANAL+ leadership in Johannesburg and, along with them, we are very excited about the road ahead.”

Rendani Ramovha, CANAL+ Director for Sports Content in English and Portuguese-speaking Africa, said: “As part of CANAL+ Africa and the CANAL+ Group, we are proud to be able to enhance our existing partnership with SA Rugby.

“Rugby plays an important role in the sports package we deliver to our CANAL+ Africa SA Pay-TV audience and the partnership with SA Rugby is crucial to delivering the very best in local and international rugby.

“We are excited to engage with the rugby governing body to find ways to deliver the sport to audiences across many different touchpoints: linear television, streaming, digital and social media.

“The robust and engaging discussions were aimed at ensuring that the viewer gets the ultimate rugby viewing experience, courtesy of this SuperSport partnership. We cannot wait for the viewers and DStv subscribers to experience all that we have in store this year, leading up to the Springboks’ title defence in Australia next year.”

Ultimate Survival Test: Naked And Afraid Returns For Its Most Extreme Season Premiering On Discovery Channel Africa On Wednesday, 18 March At 20:05

Discovery Channel dives deep into one of the most audacious and high-stakes challenges on Naked and Afraid S12, premiering on Discovery Channel Africa (DStv 121) on Wednesday, 18 March at 20:05. 

 

This season, a fresh crop of intrepid survivalists will be plunged into what can only be described as hell on Earth. Stripped of every comfort and convenience without water, food, or even clothing. They face the ultimate reckoning of body, mind, and spirit. From scorching deserts to unforgiving jungles, they're abandoned in five of the planet's most brutal and diverse landscapes, armed with nothing but their raw determination.

 

The two-hour season premiere kicks off with a bang, as Naked and Afraid legend Matt Wright makes a surprise appearance. He throws a rookie and a returning challenger, desperate for redemption, into the punishing Florida Everglades. Here, intense heat, severe storms, swarming mosquitoes, and aggressive alligators conspire to turn the swampy terrain into a relentless battle for survival. As the season pushes deeper into its global challenges, the series returns to southern Africa, where survivalists face the raw wilderness of Botswana’s arid desert terrain and the dense, wildlife-rich landscapes of Zambia, two locations long known within the franchise for their extreme heat, scarce resources, and close encounters with predators.

 

In a new move for the franchise, this season features a first: expert survivalists Ky Furneaux and Dan Link face a staggering 14 days on a remote island, completely devoid of tools, firestarter, pot, or blade. It’s the most extreme test of human ingenuity and resilience ever conceived. Adding another fascinating twist, a group of five fearless social media influencers will trade their filtered feeds for raw reality, attempting to prove if their online personas can truly withstand the primal force of Mother Nature.

 

Don’t miss the drama, danger, and raw human resilience on full display.

Naked and Afraid Season 12 premieres 18 March, airing Wednesdays at 20:05, until 3 June on Discovery Channel Africa (DStv 121).

Comedy Central And Adult Swim Could Benefit From The Warner Bros. Discovery And Paramount Merger

Paramount is in process of trying to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery home to brands like CNN, Cartoon Network and OWN. This merger would mean that Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon, CBS News and CNN, and BET and OWN will operate under one roof.

The biggest gainer within this M&A would be Comedy Central and Adult Swim.

Comedy Central's content slate has been reliant on reruns of sitcoms like Becker, Hot In Cleveland, The Nanny and Rules Of Engagement. The only thing basically carrying the channel would be South Park and The Daily Show.

Adult Swim has been regarded as destination hub for adult animation with shows like Rick And Morty, Robot Chicken, Primal and Final Space. Unlike Comedy Central, it lacks in scale with it's linear operations residing mainly in Canada.

With this merger, Comedy Central stands to benefit with an increased slate of content. The channel is no stranger to animation with Beavis And Butthead and it's spinoff Daria as well as Drawn Together, The Ren And Stumpy Show and Ugly Americans.

Canada is the only known market to offer a 24 hour channel for Adult Swim maybe this merger will even lead more feeds for the brand perhaps under Comedy Central.