Reminder: Revamped Showmax Streamer Launches This February And Is Cheaper

Ten months after MultiChoice, Comcast’s NBCUniversal and Sky announced a joint streaming vision for Africa, the new Showmax is here, featuring a refreshed brand and a massive content lineup, all delivered on a powerful new streaming platform.

At the heart of the new offering is the world’s first standalone Premier League plan for mobile, with all 380 games offered live on Showmax Premier League for just R69 a month.

In addition, there are two more Showmax plans available to customers in 44 African countries: Showmax Entertainment on mobile for an unbelievable R39 a month at launch, as well as the Showmax Entertainment plan, where the monthly price falls from R99 to R89 per month.

“There are currently just over 450 million smartphones in the hands of individuals across Africa … and more than 250 million avid football lovers on the continent,” says Marc Jury, CEO of Showmax. “Showmax Premier League is a game-changing product that gives individuals a ticket to the football they love, wherever they are, on the device they always have with them, at a price that’s impossible not to love.”

“Africa is incredibly important to the Premier League and our clubs; 20% of TV audiences on any given matchday come from Africa,” says Richard Masters, Premier League CEO. “We are delighted with this Showmax initiative, which puts the Premier League in your pocket at a new price point so that millions more can enjoy our fantastic competition.”

Core to the success of Showmax’s streaming ambitions in Africa is a new technical platform that is robust and built to scale. With the launch of Showmax, the Peacock streaming platform will be active in more than 70 countries and is continually enhanced by the combined expertise of thousands of engineers. The world-class platform has brought millions of viewers popular events such as Super Bowl LVI, the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 final, the Olympics and WrestleMania 39. On 13 January, Peacock’s exclusive AFC Wild Card Game became the biggest live-streamed event in US history, reaching 27.6 million viewers and a record 16.3 million concurrent devices. In 2023, Comcast won a Technology and Engineering Emmy Award for its sports viewing experiences across Peacock, Sky and Xfinity.

“Peacock’s best-in-class technology platform will deliver a world-class streaming experience to Showmax audiences,” said Patrick Miceli, Executive Vice President & Chief Technology Officer, Direct-to-Consumer & International, NBCUniversal. “The Peacock platform was designed from day one to support both live and on-demand content, including the biggest live sporting events, so we look forward to extending that capability and reliability to the new Showmax.”

Alongside the Premier League, the new Showmax also opens the door to a thrilling entertainment universe spanning a wide range of stars and stories across multiple genres. With no fewer than 21 new Showmax Originals launching in February alone, there will be more than 1 300 hours of Showmax Originals produced in the coming year, representing a significant 150% increase in production output compared to the year before.

Complementing this powerful African content slate is an international offering that will give viewers cause for celebration. As a result of MultiChoice’s partnership with Comcast’s NBCUniversal and Sky, Showmax is guaranteed an ongoing supply of the world’s most popular titles from the media giant’s renowned brands, including Universal Pictures, Focus Features, NBC, Peacock, DreamWorks Animation and Telemundo. The stellar content lineup includes films like the latest instalment in the hit Fast franchise, Fast X, and Wes Anderson’s comedy-drama Asteroid City; procedural drama series such as NBC’s The Irrational starring Jesse L. Martin; and Peacock original comedy series Killing It, from the creative team behind Brooklyn Nine-Nine, starring Craig Robinson.

Showmax will also continue to draw from the likes of Paramount, including Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning and Halo S2 in February, and HBO, with new seasons of House of the Dragon, The Last of Us, True Detective, and The White Lotus on the way.

Showmax’s content offering is further boosted by its focus on the African market and strengthened by the vast creative and commercial presence already established by MultiChoice. “Nobody understands Africa like we do. Showmax is putting the continent first with a powerful streaming service that will revolutionise streaming in Africa in 2024,” says Calvo Mawela, MultiChoice Group CEO.

With the content and platform providing strong foundations for the new Showmax, ease of access for customers is another key business priority. As the first streaming service in Africa to make mobile downloads possible for offline viewing and the first to launch a mobile-only plan, Showmax has now delivered incredibly competitive new price points, with a growing network of payment options available to customers.

This payment ecosystem is facilitated by Moment, another MultiChoice joint venture partner. Working with more than 200 payment partners such as banks, mobile money providers, retailers and payment schemes, Moment is building the broadest pan-African payments network. In addition, DStv customers will continue to have the option of adding Showmax to their DStv bill each month and benefitting from significant discounts. Showmax will be announcing additional partnerships soon that will offer even more value to customers.

The new Showmax app will become available in app stores from 23 January 2024 onward, as part of a staggered migration process across 44 markets. This is an ongoing process that starts next week and will be completed in February this year. Existing Showmax customers will begin receiving communication with information on how to access the new app this week and by 12 February 2024 the new Showmax will be live in all markets.

New Series Alert: Blue Cage And Hicran Also Rumoured To Be Making It's African Debut Soon Likely On Telemundo, Could eExtra's Kuiertyd Or kykNET Perhaps Get It?

Following the recent report that Telemundo will be further distancing themselves from original programming. The channel had acquired various shows from numerous international studios and broadcasters including Colombia's Caracol Televisión and RCN.

In October 2023, Telemundo debuted their first Turkish production across the African continent, Cennet: The Power Of Destiny. It proved to be a popular addition with consumers following the U.S. counterpart that had been sourcing content within the region years prior.

Inter Medya and Telemundo presented two Turkish dramas at MIPCOM within 2023, Blue Cage (Maviye Sürgün, 03 Medya) and Hicran to potential buyers. The two had been capitalising on Turkish dramas for Spanish language audiences and now the latter has folded in Africa.

Considering these two dramas were also co-produced/distributed by Telemundo, would it seem far fetched if the channel were to acquire them for consumers in Africa perhaps when Cennet ends in the coming months?

Synopsis for The Blue Cage:

Oguz has saved a young amnesiac woman, Defne, who he brings into his home. But when Defne recovers her memory, she realizes that she was a con artist who must remain in hiding.

Synopsis for Hicran:

Hicran, who wakes up to the new day with the nightmare she sees every night in which she tries to catch up with her daughter, who is said to have died at birth, is a young woman who is trying to hold on to life and who believes that her daughter is not dead, unlike everyone else.

Development Alert: The Ghost And Molly McGee Ends After Two Seasons On The Disney Channel

The Ghost and Molly McGee is an American animated supernatural comedy television series created by Bill Motz and Bob Roth that aired on Disney Channel from October 1, 2021 to January 13, 2024. The series featured the voices of Ashly Burch, Dana Snyder, Jordan Klepper, Sumalee Montano, Michaela Dietz, and Lara Jill Miller.

Synopsis for The Ghost And Molly McGee:

In the Human Realm, 13-year-old optimist Molly McGee arrives in her new hometown of Brighton, only to discover that her new house is already occupied by a grumpy ghost named Scratch. Scratch curses Molly in an attempt to scare her away; however, this backfires, forever binding him to her. While initially antagonistic toward her, Scratch opens up to Molly with time, and their friendship strengthens. The two go on wacky misadventures together and help each other through the good and bad in their lives (and afterlives). 

The first premiered on October 1, 2021 and ended on July 9, 2022 with 20 episodes while the second season premiered on April 1, 2023 and concluded on January 13, 2024 on Disney Channel with 21 episodes.

TGAMM crew member Noel Belknap confirmed Disney had originally greenlit scripts for a third season while the crew was working on season 2 but the show was cancelled as early as May 2022 between S1 episodes 115-116.

The End was additionally ordered to conclude the series. pic.twitter.com/oHEAtKP89i

— Owlphibia (@owlphibia) January 14, 2024

According to a tweet on Owlphobia, Noel Belknap who served as a crew member on the show revealed that Disney had greenlit a script for a third season while working on the second season. But Disney cancelled it as early as May 2022 while filming the first season.

"The End" which is set to rollout on Disney Channel in various countries served as an additional commission to conclude the show and was initially meant for the third season.

The third season would have tackled more serious topics such as relationships, death and loss. Unfortunately due to the cancellation and possible a change in management, all the ideas were scrapped and "The End" concluded the show.

Recap To Last Year: How The Merger Of Paramount Global And Warner Bros. Discovery Could Bring The End Of Cartoon Network (And Nickelodeon)?

Last year, it was reported that Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount Global were in early talks of a potential merger. The news was met with mixed to negative feedback from consumers with some more concerned about the future of Paw Patrol and SpongeBob SquarePants.

Warner Bros. Discovery had further distanced themselves from their 6-12 demographic which is where Cartoon Network falls in order to prioritise Adult Swim. Through a survey, it was revealed that a majority of the network's audience particularly primetime are adults.

Internationally, Cartoon Network continues to operate independently but too has seen some distancing in recent years particularly for content produced by Cartoon Network Studios, Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe and Warner Bros. Animation.

Paramount Global serving as a successor still prioritise the kids offering with some fearing that Nickelodeon could end up being what remains of Cartoon Network. If not worse a possible merger between these two brands and their programming.

Warner Bros. Discovery offers Boing and Boomerang in parts of the world while Paramount Global offers TeenNick, Nicktoons and NickAtNite all of which could be folded under one hub. But the idea of keeping both brands intact wouldn't seem far fetched.

Nickelodeon has an existing slate of live-action productions something Cartoon Network has been struggling to maintain since it's inception. Perhaps Nickelodeon could prioritise live-action more while further animation is distributed by Cartoon Network and Warner Bros. Animation.

Recap To Last Year: How The Possible Merger Of Paramount Global And Warner Bros. Discovery Merge Nicktoons With Boing And Boomerang?

Boomerang was international children's channel operated by Warner Bros. Discovery that featured past content from Warner Bros. Animation and Cartoon Network. Internationally, it served as a complimentary brand to Cartoon Network with a family based offering.

Some content to have been viewed on Boomerang before it's rebrand to Cartoonito included Grizzy And The Lemmings, Mr. Magoo, New Looney Tunes and Be Cool, Scooby-Doo. It's predecessor Cartoonito serves as a fresh outtake to the nostalgic brand.

Cartoonito seeks to maintain the Boomerang DNA with the latter but in retrospect. It's more like sister channel Cartoon Network which had grown distance from its older programming.

Last year, Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount Global were said to be in early talks of a potential merger. This could see brands like Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network operate under the same umbrella but questions amounted to the future of their other kids brands.

Warner Bros. Discovery had been slowly scrapping Cartoon Network Studios and folding it under Warner Bros. Animation so it's less likely that Nickelodeon Animation Studios will be treated any different. Ideally, Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network's linear counterpart could remain intact.

If anything, a restructuring could be underway for this offering if the merger moves forward. Nickelodeon could revert into the TeenNick of children's TV as they've built stable hits like Drake And Josh, iCarly and Henry Danger with further animation under Cartoon Network.

With animation moving away from Nickelodeon, this would bring about the end of the Nicktoons trademark. Warner Bros. Discovery offering Boomerang and Boing could use these brands to supplement Nicktoons in other countries.

In parts of Europe and Africa, Boing is likely to lead the way as it served as a more modern outtake to Boomerang. It wasn't centred solely on past programming and Warner had often licenced content that wasn't viewed on either Cartoon Network and Cartoonito.