MultiChoice is consolidating its streaming presence in Kenya. From May 1, 2026, the standalone Showmax platform closes.
The content it built its reputation on is not disappearing. Showmax Originals are moving into a dedicated section within DStv Stream, the company’s app that combines on-demand content, live television, and sport under one subscription.
The move ends Showmax as an independent service while keeping its library of African originals alive. That includes Kenyan titles such as Single Kiasi, The Mommy Club NBO, Adam 2 Eve, Big Girl Small World, and The Real Housewives of Nairobi.
What Viewers Get Instead
DStv Stream is a broader proposition than Showmax. Where Showmax focused on entertainment with no live TV and limited sport, DStv Stream brings everything together: over 100 live channels, full SuperSport access including the English Premier League, UEFA Champions League, and LaLiga, plus a larger on-demand catalogue.
The platform runs on smart TVs, phones, and laptops. That is an upgrade from Showmax Premier League, which was restricted to mobile. Offline downloads, Watch From Start, multiple streams, kids profiles, parental controls, and bundled billing are all part of the package. The pitch from MultiChoice is one subscription, one app, everything in one place.
The Price Question
Cost is the sharpest concern for subscribers making this move.
MultiChoice is offering free access to DStv Stream Compact through May 30, 2026. This applies to subscribers who signed up directly to Showmax and do not hold an active DStv account. After that trial, qualifying users can subscribe at KES 550 per month for 12 months. The standard Compact price sits at around KES 4,200 per month.
Existing DStv subscribers who already received Showmax as part of their package do not qualify for the promotion. Subscribers will not move across automatically. They need to sign up for DStv Stream and create a new profile. Those who choose not to switch can request refunds for unused portions of their Showmax subscriptions.
The trial period buys time. But the real question remains unanswered: what does a subscriber pay from month 13 onwards?
Why MultiChoice Is Making This Move
This consolidation follows a pattern playing out across the streaming industry. As standalone platforms struggle to compete on content volume alone, companies are bundling services to reduce subscriber exits and improve returns over time.
For MultiChoice, running separate apps for film, series, and sport no longer works commercially. Bringing Showmax Originals into DStv Stream puts its audience in one place, strengthens the content offering, and positions the service for wider reach.
“Showmax helped unlock a wave of world-class African storytelling,” said Nzola Miranda, Managing Director of MultiChoice Kenya. He pointed to productions built through partnerships with local creators and confirmed the company’s commitment to African storytelling would continue within the new structure.
DStv Compact, Compact Plus, and Premium subscribers gain access to Showmax content at no extra cost.
The End of an Era and What Comes Next
Showmax closing as a standalone service marks the end of a chapter in African streaming. It was among the first platforms to invest in locally produced content, building an audience for Kenyan and pan-African stories at a time when global platforms looked elsewhere.
That catalogue now lives inside a larger ecosystem. Whether it grows there depends on one thing MultiChoice cannot control: whether audiences decide the combined offering is worth the combined cost.
The trial runs until May 30. The real test begins after that.
