MultiChoice And StudioCanal Announces The Road Home, A Distinctly South African Story, To Be Filmed In Cape Town

• The Road Home is a story of the power of music that changed the world, bringing to life the inspiring story of the creation of the Graceland album and band

• The film’s budget is roughly ZAR 300 million

• Production to commence in Cape Town on June 29th, employing over 300 local film crew and up to 3,500 extras

• Underscores commitments made by CANAL+ during the acquisition of MultiChoice Group

STUDIOCANAL, the in-house studio of CANAL+, in partnership with Flora Films, is proud to announce the production of feature film The Road Home. The film brings a uniquely South African story to a global audience, and is set against the backdrop of Paul Simon’s 1986 album Graceland. Principal photography starts in Cape Town in June.

Following exile from his native South Africa, trumpeter Hugh Masekela (Rametsi) is pulled between two worlds when the Anti-Apartheid Movement, led by his mentor Archbishop Trevor Huddleston (Pearce), launches a boycott against Paul Simon, over his groundbreaking township music-inspired album “Graceland”, accusing Simon of violating the United Nation’s Cultural Boycott.

Splitting from his mentor, Masekela – who sees their music as a powerful weapon in the struggle – joins forces with Simon and Hugh’s lifelong collaborator, South African powerhouse vocalist Miriam ‘Mama Africa’ Makeba (Erivo), to create the Graceland band - a super group designed to bring South Africa’s voice to the world, building to a powerful, celebratory testament to resilience, and the triumph of the human spirit.

The screenplay was developed through deep research ensuring a truly authentic telling, in particular drawing on the knowledge and resources of the Hugh Masekela Heritage Foundation, enriched by contributions from acclaimed South African novelist Zakes Mda. Alongside the invaluable insights shared with Bronner during the writing process by several Hugh Masekela Heritage Foundation members, Bronner did extensive research for the script – including in-depth interviews with Paul Simon.

The production of The Road Home will employ over 300 South African crew members, with only a small number of specialist roles filled internationally, alongside 68 local cast members, including celebrated South African actor Thabo Rametsi, an estimated 3,500 extras, and globally recognised local musicians.

CANAL+, through its film and television production and distribution arm STUDIOCANAL, is largely financing The Road Home, demonstrating its commitment to premium international storytelling in South Africa. The film will be shot on location in Cape Town further reinforcing the country’s status as a world class film production destination.

Anna Marsh, CEO of STUDIOCANAL and Chief Content Officer of CANAL+: "South Africa remains one of the best places in the world to produce compelling, high-quality content. I am delighted that we are able to bring a uniquely South African story to a global audience and shoot it in Cape Town with major local and international stars. The production is only possible due to the outstanding talent - both on and off the screen - which exists within South Africa’s creative ecosystem. This film exemplifies CANAL+’s continued commitment to investing in outstanding local content and bring powerful African stories to the screen with authenticity and ambition.”

Nomsa Philiso, Director, Content, General Entertainment, English and Portuguese-speaking Africa + added: “MultiChoice Group has long had a strong and successful local content platform rooted in African storytelling. Our combination with CANAL+ builds on this foundation, strengthening our scale and reach and enabling the production of ambitious films such as The Road Home. Through STUDIOCANAL, we are further enhancing our ability to invest in premium content and take high quality African stories to global audiences, showcasing the best of the continent on the world stage”.

Could MultiChoice Look To Replace BET As Canal+ Afrique Might Have A Suitor For Paramount Network France?

Last year, Paramount closed its doors in Africa and various parts of Europe affecting brands like BET, MTV Base and Paramount Network. These channels were distributed in Canal+ Afrique and MultiChoice territories that started the year with less channels.

Prior to their exist, MultiChoice had stated that at this stage they weren't looking to replace these channels. Looking at the number of channels to have exited their platforms it was believed that they weren't interested in replacing them.

They had widened the reach of Trace TV's remaining channels like Gospel and Ngoma (formerly Africa) to its DStv Access subscribers. To some this was probably their way of compensating for MTV Base but that was not the case here.

During the month, MultiChoice had launched Base Pulse in the same frequency as MTV Base. Oddly enough some of Paramount's staff are now seen on this newest addition by Pulse Entertainment.

Prior to its addition, they were whispers of an MTV Base revival and all of this was likely pointing toward Base Pulse. As both brands have "Base" in the name aside from channel number, staff and heavy focus on Amapiano vibes.

Canal+ Afrique had also been test running a TV channel with Paramount Network's frequency and it's a safe bet that like Base Pulse maybe some of the content will resurface on this channel. Unless it could as well be another Canal+ branded channel.

Following the acquisition of MultiChoice, they have access to M-Net's local archives so they might as well dust out some old IPs and introduce them to these consumers. As mentioned, it's just speculation as tests are still underway.

As for MultiChoice, I haven't seen any signs that they're looking to replace BET however a duplicate feed for Moja 9.9. is currently being tested. Sometimes when a duplicate feed is placed it's usually just a placeholder for another TV channel.

In rare cases, they're just making upgrades which I doubt as there's an SD and HD feed, and I also doubt they're launching a localised feed. These are usually reserved for flagship brands like Moja Love as rerun channels aren't prioritised for such in this instance.

MultiChoice has localised feeds for M-Net, M-Net Movies 1, Disney Channel and TLC but not for your M-Net Movies 2-4, Disney Junior and Real Time.

Could SuperSport Be Looking To Revamp The Variety Channels In More MultiChoice Territories?

A few years ago, MultiChoice Africa decided to away with it's Variety 2-4 channels by folding them under Africa 1 and 2 with select content on SuperSport Action. This left them with Variety 1 which is likely due for a major overhaul.

Of course, these changes have yet to take affect in South Africa and it's not known whether SuperSport will make similar arrangements as tests are underway for another TV channel.

Speculated to be SuperSport Play, this channel takes a page of Variety 4 and features a lot of local content and highlights from premium sports channels. It also serves as overflow for various sporting events like Varsity Cup and PSA.

MultiChoice made SuperSport Play available to its Free-To-View customers on DStv Stream alongside paying consumers. Now under French giant Canal+, they might be looking to make it accessible of course nothing is confirmed as yet.

Of course, this channel they've been testing out for a while now had also been airing events live on Variety 2 almost like a simulcast with variations in certain timeslots. Maybe this channel in question will lead to a restructure of the existing Variety offering.

If it's SuperSport Play, I'd imagine they'd want to readjust the lineup a bit perhaps remove all that content from Blitz seeing as it's accessible across packages. That is what happened with SuperSport Schools when it was only viewable on DStv Stream. 

Canal+ To Shutter Showmax Streaming Service By The End Of April As Content Moves To DStv Stream

Showmax has today confirmed key dates marking the end of the streaming service that has operated across 44 markets in Sub-Saharan Africa for the past 11 years.

In an email sent to subscribers on Wednesday evening, the platform outlined a phased wind-down of its current service, with 31 March 2026 set as the final day for subscription renewals and voucher redemptions. From 1 April 2026, new subscriptions and renewals will no longer be available.

Existing subscribers will continue watching content until their subscription expires, or until the end of April 2026, whichever comes first.

This new update provides the clearest consumer-facing timeline yet, following the announcement roughly two weeks ago that Canal+ would shut down Showmax, citing “unacceptable” losses at the African streamer as it sought cost-saving measures.

That announcement sent shockwaves across the industry, from Nairobi to Lagos to Johannesburg, with filmmakers and actors raising concerns over the loss of a key African platform that had, for over a decade, commissioned and amplified local storytelling at scale.

At the same time, the announcement was also met with uncertainty, particularly due to the absence of a clear shutdown timeline or transition plan for subscribers.

Even now, some subscribers have already begun expressing frustration over the short transition window. “It’s really annoying how little time is left,” one subscriber and regular Showmax viewer said in a WhatsApp message.

Showmax Originals will now move to DStv Stream, positioning it as MultiChoice’s central hub for streaming offering, at least for now.

“Showmax is starting a new chapter, and your favourite shows are getting a shiny new home on DStv Stream,” the company said in the email.

But the language used in the communication also suggests that there is more to come. In stating that the content will join “a bigger world of entertainment, all in one place,” MultiChoice hints at a broader consolidation strategy — one that could see Canal+ and MultiChoice’s currently fragmented digital products folded into a more unified streaming ecosystem. There have been reports that Canal+ is exploring a single “super app”, one to rule them all, though this remains unconfirmed at this stage.

In the meantime, it remains unclear whether Showmax users will be migrated to DStv Stream, and what that process would look like in terms of pricing, packaging and access, especially given the current price disparity between the two services. 

The company says further details on how subscribers can continue “enjoying Showmax Originals and more” on DStv Stream will be shared soon.

For now, it’s confirmed without a doubt that Showmax is entering its final weeks.

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.