Top Sky executive Andrea Zappia has been appointed chairman of Africa’s largest streaming service MultiChoice Group’s Showmax after a deal with Comcast as it seeks to compete with the likes of Netflix Inc. and significantly increase its revenues on the continent.
Details
Zappia, who was Sky’s managing director of new markets and businesses, became chairman this month, according to his Linkedin profile and confirmed by MultiChoice. He joined the MultiChoice board in September.
Digging deeper
Showmax, which already operates in 50 African countries, relaunched its service on Monday with support and technology from Comcast.
The streaming service plans to generates $1 billion in revenue in five yearsCEO MultiChoice Calvo Mauella he said. The group has not reported separate revenue numbers for Showmax in the past.
Comcast’s MultiChoice and NBCUniversal and Sky formed a partnership in March to grow audiences on the African continent.
By The Numbers
MultiChoice currently owns 70% of Showmaxand Comcast the rest β with the right to expand its holding, Mawela said.
The venture also sees an opportunity to grow its audience in categories such as football and local shows, as tech-savvy young Africans turn to their phones for services ranging from banking to entertainment.
What they say
The new offer will run on the Peacock streaming platform and will show the English Premier League as part of its offering.
βThe benefit of the partnership between Comcast and MultiChoice is that we take international experience and combine it with our African experience β and that makes us very competitive on the continentβ, said the CEO of Showmax Marc Jury in an interview.
“The plan is to scale the business significantly.”
Source: Bloomberg
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