Canal+ has taken a bold first step as the new owner of MultiChoice, shutting down the loss-making streaming service Showmax.

The move comes after a “comprehensive” review of Showmax, known for premium original series like Spinners, Catch Me a Killer, and Khaki Fever, which revealed the platform was generating significant annual losses.

Canal+ acquired MultiChoice, in a $2 billion deal last September, pledging to “double down” on major local hits like Spinners and Shaka iLembe.

At the deal’s closure, Canal+ indicated that a decision on Showmax’s future would be made in the coming weeks or months.

“The substantial annual losses experienced by the Showmax business have proved unsustainable,” Canal+ stated.

“The decision to phase out Showmax reflects our focus on building a sustainable, competitive business for the long term in an increasingly demanding global streaming environment.”

The company added, “The decision to discontinue Showmax services will not involve any retrenchments. The Group will be engaging and supporting employees through various transition options.”

No timeline has been provided for when the service will shut down, nor what the promised “expanded content offering and platform upgrades” will include, with further details expected later.

Showmax has operated in its current form since February 2024, following a relaunch supported by Comcast, which acquired a 30 per cent stake in the company.