Showmax tackles Nigerian market

MultiChoice Group’s video-on-demand service, Showmax, has been launched in Nigeria with local content and naira-based pricing.

The service costs N2 900/month, or R112/month at the time of writing, making it about 13% more expensive than Showmax in South Africa.

Showmax Nigeria offers a “dedicated slate of Nigerian television shows and movies, international hit series, Hollywood blockbusters, and a Big Brother Naija partnership with live streaming and exclusive new BBNaija shows”, the company said in a statement.

“We’re aiming for the sweet spot that other services may have missed,” said Niclas Ekdahl, CEO of MultiChoice Group’s Connected Video division. “Taking a generic service and tacking on a few Nollywood movies won’t cut it, so we’re coming in with a strong mix of up-to-date Nigerian shows, international hits and favourites from across Africa, and now, as something completely new: on-demand and live Big Brother Naija content.”

Two new shows have been produced exclusively for Showmax in Nigeria. Big Brother Naija Extra View is a 25-minute compilation of unseen footage and will be added to the site daily from Tuesday to Saturday. Big Brother Naija Hot Room is a 25-minute satirical commentary on the week’s main drama and action.

Other shows

Other shows will be added from MultiChoice’s Africa Magic channels, including Tinsel, The Johnsons and My Flatmates.

The new Showmax service will feature Nollywood movies and “thousands” of TV show episodes. Bollywood shows and telenovelas will also be part of the line-up, as will shows from the rest of Africa like Kenya’s Supa Modo and South Africa’s Five Fingers For Marseilles. — (c) 2019 NewsCentral Media