by Thinus Ferreira
MultiChoice has lost Candice Fangueiro as Showmax content boss, with the executive jumping to a new high-profile job at Amazon Prime Video where she will be spearheading the creation of African TV hits for a global audience.
Candice Fangueiro's exit after 7 years as Showmax head of content comes as rival global streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney are actively staffing up their African content operation divisions - Netflix in Amsterdam and Amazon in Cape Town - primarily poaching top TV executive talent from MultiChoice as the continent's largest traditional pay-TV operator.
Candice Fangueiro's departure from MultiChoice follows the July exit of Gideon Khobane who was MultiChoice's group executive of general entertainment also jumping to Amazon.
Nkateko Mabaso who was MultiChoice's group executive in charge of programming is now Netflix director of licensing and co-productions for Africa; the M-Net senior programmer Tracy-Ann van Rooyen left to join Disney; Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu who was the regional director of M-Net West Africa is now Amazon Prime Video's head of Nigerian Originals in Africa, while a string of MultiChoice marketing and PR staffers have also left for similar jobs at Netflix.
Allan Sperling, who was MultiChoice's executive head of physical production is moving over and replacing Candice Fangueiro as Showmax's new head of content.
Candice Fangueiro who previously worked at 20th Century Fox and Nu Metro Entertainment joined Showmax in September 2015 where she oversaw the commissioning and development of Showmax Originals and co-productions the past seven years.
Candice Fangueiro minted success in her executive role when the streamer's first Showmax Original, Tali's Wedding Diary was not just lauded by critics but enjoyed by subscribers as well, while the mockumentary series raked in multiple awards as the first South African series on a streaming service to win at the South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAs).
Devilsdorp, the streamer's first Showmax Original true crime series, also made a successful debut, finding success with TV critics and viewers alike.
Candice Fangueiro is leaving before the release on 28 September of the expensive R85 million Showmax co-production with Canal+, Blood Psalms from Yellowbone Entertainment as a project she also oversaw, with the delayed African fantasy drama series touted as the largest and most expensive TV series ever produced in South Africa.
Showmax confirmed Candice Fangueiro's exit and told TVwithThinus that the streaming service wishes her well with her future career. Amazon Prime Video declined comment in response to a media query.
"Yes, I am leaving Showmax after seven incredible years. Being a part of Showmax since it launched in 2015, to the release of our very first original in 2017, and then seeing how much it's grown since those early days has been so rewarding," Candice Fangueiro says.
"I'm now ready for new career challenges at Amazon's Prime Video and wish my colleagues at Showmax everything of the best."
