Showmax Raises Subscription Prices Following Revamp

Showmax, the streaming platform owned by MultiChoice Group, is increasing the prices of two subscription packages starting in August, months after its relaunch in January.

The price adjustments come as Showmax transitions from promotional pricing offered during the launch of Showmax 2.0. Showmax Entertainment will revert to its original price of $5.6 per month, which was first introduced in 2015, while Showmax Entertainment Mobile will be set at $2.5 per month, positioning it competitively among global mobile streaming services.

Effective August, Showmax Entertainment will rise by $0.55 to $5.5 per month from its current $5, while Showmax Entertainment Mobile will increase by $0.33 to $2.5 per month from $2.2. Notably, the Showmax Premier League plan, featuring exclusive mobile streaming of English Premier League matches, remains unchanged at $4 per month.

Both bundle options, Showmax Entertainment with Premier League and Showmax Entertainment Mobile with Premier League, retain their current pricing at $7.7 and $5.5 per month, respectively.

MultiChoice highlighted that over 80% of previous Showmax 1.0 subscribers have transitioned to the revamped Showmax 2.0 platform. Despite trading losses related to Showmax being better than expected at $143 million, the platform continues to expand its reach across 44 markets in sub-Saharan Africa, with initial marketing focused on South Africa and Nigeria.

Showmax 2.0 introduced a unique offering with the English Premier League mobile-only package, targeting Africa’s estimated 250 million Premier League fans. The platform’s pricing strategy is localized across nine core markets, adapting to local economic conditions in regions like South Africa and Nigeria.

The adjustments reflect Showmax’s strategic positioning to enhance its content offerings and capitalize on growing digital entertainment demand across Africa.