African streaming giant, Showmax, is set to launch a brand-new app in February 2024, providing a better experience for its audience. The relaunch of Showmax follows the announcement of a partnership with MultiChoice and international media heavyweight Comcast’s NBCUniversal and Sky Partner to create an unparalleled streaming service.
The new Showmax will feature a brand-new look, a new app, and an entirely new product suite. The streamer will be releasing a record 21 Showmax Originals from four African countries, a revamped international content slate, and the continent’s first standalone Premier League mobile streaming plan. More than 1,300 hours of new Showmax Originals will be released in 2024 across Africa, so viewers will be able to watch an average of more than 3.5 hours of fresh local content on Showmax every day of the year.
The diverse launch lineup includes adaptations of two local bestsellers: Angela Makholwa’s serial killer thriller Red Ink, and international co-production Catch Me A Killer, based on the memoir of Micki Pistorius, South Africa’s first serial killer profiler. Reality TV fans will be spoilt for choice, with Widows Unveiled; Sadau Sisters, led by Nigerian actress Rahama Sadau; Chocolate Kings, about male exotic dancers; Ghana-set dating show What Will People Say?; and new seasons of hits like The Mommy Club and The Real Housewives of Durban ¹. There’s also high school drama Youngins, from iEmmy nominees Tshedza Pictures; university drama Wyfie; an epic drama series set in Igboland, Cheta’m; crime drama Koek; comedy Ekhaya Backpackers; Nigerian documentary series Free Men; and new seasons of hits like Flawsome (Nigeria), Single Kiasi (Kenya) and ENO (Ghana).
For fans of international content, the MultiChoice and Comcast partnership guarantees Showmax an ongoing supply of hit content, as the media giant owns the likes of Universal Pictures, NBC, Peacock, Sky, DreamWorks Animation, and Telemundo. Already home to the three most nominated shows at next week’s Emmys® and the TV drama winner at last night’s Golden Globes, Showmax will continue to draw titles from Banijay, BBC, eOne, Fremantle, HBO, ITV, Lionsgate, Paramount, Sony and Warner Bros. Discovery, among others, so viewers can expect international titles on Showmax to radically increase this year.
At launch, international highlights will include Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning and Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse, two of the 10 biggest box office hits of 2023; the second season of Halo, express from the US; Lawman: Bass Reeves, from Yellowstone co-creator Taylor Sheridan and starring David Oyelowo in a Critics Choice- and Golden Globe-nominated performance; missing persons procedural Found, which was NBC’s biggest launch on Peacock yet; Neill Blomkamp’s #1 US box office hit Gran Turismo; and box sets of classic NBC comedies like The Office and Parks and Recreation.
Showmax will also be releasing four films for Valentine’s Day: Forever Yena, Intlawulo, and Matilda en Matthys from South Africa and The Counsellor from Nigeria.
The new Showmax is set to be released on January 26, 2024, and will be distributed by FilmOne Entertainment across cinemas nationwide.