MultiChoice Group, South Africa’s premier pay-TV company, is set to revolutionize the African streaming landscape with a dedicated live Premier League soccer plan on its revamped Showmax video streaming platform. In collaboration with U.S. media conglomerate Comcast, MultiChoice is gearing up to offer African subscribers exclusive access to top-tier football content on their mobile devices.
As MultiChoice faces stiff competition from global streaming giants like Netflix, Amazon, and Disney, it has invested significantly to remain at the forefront of Africa’s entertainment industry. The strategic partnership with Comcast’s NBCUniversal and Sky aims to enhance MultiChoice’s existing Showmax streaming service, which will be built upon NBCUniversal’s acclaimed Peacock streaming platform.
At the official launch event on Monday, Showmax CEO Marc Jury outlined the key features of the revamped platform. Central to the offering is the standalone Premier League plan, allowing Showmax subscribers in Africa to stream Premier League matches on their mobile devices for a nominal fee of 69 rand ($3.70) per month. This move aims to cater to the ever-growing number of football enthusiasts on the continent.
In addition to the standalone Premier League plan, Showmax will also introduce an entertainment-only package for mobile users, priced at 39 rand per month. For those seeking the best of both worlds, an enticing bundle offering, combining entertainment and Premier League access on mobile, will be available for 99 rand a month. Notably, entertainment content will be accessible on all devices, ensuring a seamless viewing experience for subscribers.
Richard Masters, CEO of the Premier League, highlighted Africa’s immense significance to the league and its clubs. He noted that approximately 20% of television audiences on any given match day hail from Africa. Combining this substantial viewership with Africa’s vast smartphone penetration, boasting over 450 million devices, and a staggering 250 million football enthusiasts, Showmax’s decision to offer a dedicated mobile Premier League package becomes evident.
In tandem with the Premier League offering, the revamped Showmax app is set to roll out 21 new original local content programs in February. This move reflects a commitment to boost local production output by an ambitious 150% this year, catering to the diverse tastes of African audiences.
