All we know about Showmax’s discontinuation
In case you’ve been living under a rock, the Showmax platform will be discontinued on 30 April 2026, with Showmax Originals moving to DStv Stream. The move ensures the award-winning African stories remain widely available after the Showmax service closes month end.
They are finding a new home on DStv Stream, where a dedicated Showmax section inside the app brings together many of Showmax’s most acclaimed originals and fan favourites alongside the full live streaming experience available on DStv’s standalone streaming service. Showmax Originals and more will be available on DStv Compact and DStv Premium packages exclusively on DStv Stream. For South African customers, DStv Stream remains the platform where this content is available locally, alongside a much broader library of African and international content, live channels and sport.
Below we’ve put together all the important details for you to note during this transition.
Showmax subscribers get a free trial of DStv Stream
DStv has announced that eligible Showmax subscribers will receive trial access to DStv Stream Compact for a limited period, as part of the move to a single streaming home on DStv Stream. After the trial period, qualifying customers can continue on DStv Stream Compact at a special price of R99 per month for 12 months, provided the subscription remains active throughout and payments are up to date.
The offer gives Showmax customers access to a significantly expanded content experience, including international series and movies, kids’ content and live sport via SuperSport, available on mobile devices and smart TVs. DStv Stream also includes features such as Watch From Start, offline downloads and data management tools.
Our priority is to ensure customers continue to have a home for the stories they love.
– Willington Ngwepe, CEO of MultiChoice
“By bringing thousands of hours of Showmax Originals and a deeper on-demand library into DStv Stream, we are creating a more holistic experience where live sport, news, the best international content, and award-winning local drama live together.”
DStv Compact, Compact Plus and Premium customers will benefit from access to Showmax content on DStv Stream at no additional cost.
How the DStv Stream Compact trial access works?
Eligible Showmax subscribers will receive trial access to DStv Stream Compact until the end of May. The offer and details on how to take up the offer will be communicated directly via the email address linked to their Showmax account. Eligibility is confirmed via email sent to the Showmax account address.
This includes all Showmax plans, including Showmax Premier League. Eligible customers receive free access until end May, then pay R99 per month for 12 months – a saving of up to 75% compared to standard DStv Compact Stream pricing – as long as payments remain up to date. Standard pricing for DStv Stream Compact is from R299 per month on a 12-month plan, or R399 month to month.
Who qualifies for the Showmax to DStv Stream offer?
The offer applies to qualifying customers, including Showmax subscribers who do not have an active DStv subscription and who subscribe directly to Showmax. It excludes existing DStv customers who already receive Showmax content as part of their package or who add Showmax to their DStv bill.
Will your Showmax subscription move automatically?
Showmax subscriptions will not migrate automatically. Customers who wish to continue watching will need to follow the simple sign-up process for DStv Stream shared via email, and create a new profile, all of which takes less than five minutes. Customers who choose not to move to DStv Stream may request a refund for any unused portion of their Showmax subscription, subject to standard terms and conditions. Autopayments to Showmax will stop automatically once the service is discontinued.
Important Showmax closing dates in 2026
30 April 2026
The standalone Showmax platform will officially be discontinued. Already subscribed? No stress, you can keep watching as usual until your subscription ends, or until the end of April 2026, whichever comes first.
What Will Be Available to Watch on DStv Stream?
The dedicated Showmax section on DStv Stream will feature standout titles including The Wife, Youngins (2026 SAFTA winner for Best Telenovela), Law, Love and Betrayal, Outlaws and Adulting. [Read more about Showmax Originals on DStv Stream]
International content on demand includes various The Real Housewives series. Alongside thousands of hours of Showmax Originals, look out for the highly anticipated true-crime series, The People vs VBS, which is available to binge on DStv Stream. Also available to stream is Die Kantoor, the Afrikaans adaptation of the global sensation mockumentary The Office. Law, Love and Betrayal will continue weekly episodes of the thrilling legal drama, and football lovers can livestream the epic Soweto Derby on a big screen on 26 April on DStv Stream.
