Showmax Replacement App Redirecting To DStv Stream

After Canal+'s MultiChoice had closed Showmax, work was underway on a replacement service with domains registered for each respective market under Canal+. It has since then been restricted and for some odd reason MultiChoice has now been conducting these very tests on DStv Stream.

A DStv subscriber was able to quickly point out how the layout of DStv Stream looks like that of the Canal+ domain. From what was stated by the broadcaster at the time, they were currently evaluating the streaming market in Africa which led to the closure of Showmax and GOtv Stream.

The plan was to launch a super app which merges the activities of Showmax and DStv Stream, they were basically trying to mirror what Disney+ has with Hulu and what Skydance is hoping to establish with Paramount+ and HBO Max.

Of course, this doesn't explain why they're now using the DStv Stream domain when they had the Canal+ one at its disposal. This comes prior to the company's plan of revamping their DStv packages across Africa following it's induction across South Africa in September.

Maybe there's trouble in paradise with getting this service on air or maybe they're still going to launch this super app while retaining DStv Stream. Similar to what MTN and GoTyme, they launch this new app and keep the old one as part of a migration process.

There's various reasons the old one is placed on the shelves sometimes the newer product doesn't cater for some group as the old one so they try making improvements. Another reason stems from licensing agreements and Canal+ has to honour them until it's due date.

All in all, it appears things are about to be shaking up for this super app and we could be heading for a late 2026 to early 2027 rollout. Aside from DStv Stream, don't be surprised the decade long DStv and GOtv website disappears with readers redirected to whatever this new service ends up becoming.

When Disney and Skydance launched their own streaming services, they had all these other apps and domains on the side. Since then, there's been this general push by both broadcasters to their streamline services so expect Canal+ to follow the same trend here.

Canal+ is currently in cost cutting mode as seen with the closures of Showmax and GOtv Stream alongside the North Indian channels on DStv Indian packages. They plan to save up about R7.5 billion by 2030 and cutting down on these services would push them closer to their estimated target.