Key Takeaways
- MultiChoice is shifting Showmax users to DStv Stream.
- A free DStv Stream Compact trial runs from 1 April to 31 May.
- Showmax will stop taking new sign-ups and later shut down.
- Only eligible users without an active DStv subscription get the trial.
- Subscribers must move manually to keep access.
Showmax subscribers are being moved to DStv Stream as MultiChoice consolidates its streaming plans onto a single platform. As a subscriber, if you want to keep watching, you now need to switch over. A limited free trial is being offered to make the move easier, but it is not automatic, and that is the key detail users should not miss.
What is changing for Showmax users?
MultiChoice is retiring the standalone Showmax app and steering customers toward DStv Stream. The transition comes with a free trial of DStv Stream Compact from 1 April to 31 May, giving eligible users a chance to test the new setup before paying anything extra. The move is part of a broader effort to bring streaming and live TV content under one roof.
For many viewers, this will feel less like a fresh launch and more like a platform handover. Showmax has built a strong audience over time, especially among people who want on-demand entertainment without a full pay-TV bundle. Now that experience is being merged into a wider MultiChoice streaming ecosystem.
There is also a pricing angle. After the trial, users who opt in can continue on DStv Stream at ZAR 99 (Ksh. 760), which is the same amount many of them were already paying for Showmax. That rate is expected to stay in place for 12 months, as long as the account remains in good standing.
Who gets the trial and who does not?
Not everyone will receive the free access. The offer is mainly for direct-to-consumer Showmax subscribers and people who do not already have bundled DStv access. If you are already a DStv customer and get Showmax through your subscription, you are not part of the trial group.
That said, existing DStv customers are not being left out entirely. Showmax content will still be available inside DStv Stream at no extra cost for those users. So while the route into the service changes, the content itself remains in the mix.
All Showmax plans are covered by the transition window, including the Premier League mobile tier. That matters because sports content has always been one of the strongest reasons people keep streaming subscriptions active. If you mainly use Showmax for football, this move is designed to keep you inside the MultiChoice family rather than pushing you away.
Why the move matters now
The most important part of this change is that it is not automatic. Users must register for DStv Stream using the details sent to their email and then create a new profile. MultiChoice says the process takes only a few minutes, but that still means action is required. If people ignore the email, access will not simply carry over on its own.
That is a big shift in user experience. Streaming customers are used to logging in and continuing where they left off. Here, the company is asking them to actively move, which may feel like a small task, but it decides whether service continues or stops.
Billing for Showmax will end once the service is discontinued, and customers who do not want to continue can request refunds for unused portions of their subscription, subject to the normal terms. New Showmax sign-ups also stopped on 31 March, which means the platform is already closing the door behind it.
What should subscribers do next?
If you are a current Showmax user, the safest move is to check your email, look for the migration instructions, and complete the setup as soon as possible. This is especially important if you want to keep uninterrupted access while the transition is still open.
So what does this mean in practical terms? Showmax is no longer standing alone. It is being absorbed into DStv Stream, and users now have to follow the new path to stay connected. For some, that may be inconvenient. For others, the promise of a single platform with familiar pricing will make the switch easier to accept. Either way, the streaming road ahead now runs through DStv Stream.
