by Thinus Ferreira
Showmax has added a revolving carousel of gay content in the form of series and films after signing a distribution deal with Canada's OUTtv.
Outside of South Africa, MultiChoice's subscription video-on demand (SVOD) service will block the LGBTQ+ content in countries like Kenya and Nigeria where broadcasting regulators and censorship boards deem the content offensive and don't want it to be seen.
The OUTtv offering will further diversify and strengthen Showmax's content offering that will soon compete with Netflix and Amazon Prime Video as two new over-the-top (OTT) players that will sit alongside Showmax on the revamped interface dashboard of MultiChoice's DStv service as add-in streaming options.
Showmax's OUTtv offering will now also compete with South Africa's existing PrideTV video streaming service offering a catalogue of local and international LGBT films and series.
In October 2018 MultiChoice added the gay-focused OUTtv aimed at the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community as a month-long linear pop-up TV channel on DStv to try out the content under the South African audience.
Showmax has acquired a catalogue of content including the horror drag reality series Boulet Brothers' Dragula, Trixie Mattel: Skinny Legend and Drag SOS and will add further new OUTtv content on a monthly basis.
"This year our efforts are concentrated on growing the accessibility of OUTtv's expansive catalogue of LGBTQ+ content to global audiences," says Brad Danks, CEO of OUTtv in a statement.
"We're seeing an increasing demand for LGBTQ+ programming and, by partnering with premium entertainment platforms such as Showmax we are able to make our content more accessible to international audiences."
Showmax was asked for comment about the OUTtv content distribution deal on Wednesday morning and referred TVwithThinus to the OUTtv announcement. Richard Boorman, Showmax spokesperson said the streamer has no further comment.
