MultiChoice gives eligible Showmax subscribers the chance to switch for a year to DStv Stream Compact for R99 per month

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice is migrating some of its Showmax subscribers to DStv Stream Compact who will be offered access at R99 per month for a year, after losing access to Showmax.

Canal+ decided to axe Showmax that MultiChoice did in partnership with Comcast's NBCUniversal, with the failed video streaming service which will remain accessible until 30 April although no new content is being added.

In order to not lose those Showmax subscribers entirely, MultiChoice is giving eligible Showmax subscribers a trial access to DStv Stream Compact for free, until the end of May 2026. 

After that they can pay R99 per month, for a year at this price if they remain monthly paying subscribers.

About moving eligible Showmax-only subscribers to a DStv Stream service at a discount rate, Willington Ngwepe, MultiChoice CEO, says "Our priority is to ensure customers continue to have a home for the stories they love".

"By bringing thousands of hours of Showmax Originals and a deeper on-demand library into DStv Stream, we are creating a more holistic experience where live sport, news, the best international content, and award-winning local drama live together." 

According to the company, DStv Compact, DStv Compact Plus and DStv Premium subscribers will get access to Showmax content on DStv Stream at no additional cost.

How it will work from today for eligible Showmax-only subscribers who are given the opportunity to access DStv Stream, is that they will get a trial access to DStv Stream Compact until the end of May.

This offer and details on how to do it, will be communicated to them directly, using the email address linked to their Showmax account.

After the trial period, these eligible former Showmax customers would be offered the chance to continue on DStv Stream Compact at R99 per month for 12 months - provided payments remain up to date.

This offer will be for qualifying customers, including Showmax subscribers who do not have an active DStv subscription and who subscribe directly to Showmax. It excludes existing DStv customers who already receive Showmax content as part of their package or who add Showmax to their DStv bill.

The offer will be for all Showmax plans, including Showmax Premier League.

Showmax subscriptions will not migrate automatically. According to Showmax, customers who want to continue watching, will need to follow the sign-up process for DStv Stream shared in the email, and create a new email.

Showmax subscribers who don't want to move to DStv Stream may request a refund for any unused portion of their Showmax subscription. Auto-payments to Showmax will stop automatically once the service is discontinued. 

 

The Showmax platform will be discontinued on 30 April 2026, with Showmax Originals continuing on DStv Stream.

Trace has a channel rebrand event for Trace Ngoma TV channel on DStv, MultiChoice CEO notes 'the evolution of a brand'

by Thinus Ferreira

On Wednesday night, TRACe held some type of launch event for its rebranded Trace Ngoma (DStv 326) TV channel on Canal+'s MultiChoice DStv platform, although it failed to tell media and journalists covering TV anything about it or that it would take place.

Trace rebranded Trace Africa to Trace Ngoma in December 2025, and now, three months later, decided to have some type of a rebranding launch event for it.

In December, Olivier Laouchez, co-founder and Trace CEO, in a statement, said "Trace Ngoma is where music meets identity. It amplifies the rhythms and stories that define South African culture and gives young people a space to connect and feel seen".

On Wednesday, Trace Southern Africa had the cheek to ask on its social media account on X, formerly known as Twitter, to ask "If you are not here where are you?!" - apparently too stupid to realise that media trying to cover TRACE and not aware of, and not told beforehand that something would happen, will be even more put off and care less about the channel in response to TRACE's basically non-existent media liaison efforts.

Somebody who was invited and who was told about the Trace Ngoma event was Willington Ngwepe, MultiChoice South Africa CEO and DStv Media Sales.

In a video recorded on Wednesday night by someone who attended, Willington Ngwepe is seen saying "It's a very special evening for us. Today we're celebrating the evolution of a brand. This brand has been a very stable offering on our linear broadcasting offering on DStv".

Willington Ngwepe noted "a partnership of over 23 years" that he sees "getting stronger and stronger for another 23 years" and said Trace is becoming "an anchor of the creative digital economy".

Olivier Laouchez, likely also spoke but it's not known what he said.

At the event, Trace apparently also talked about some type of app it has, but information about what was said about it wasn't shared.

Three months in, industry observers and advertisers have said they're still unsure of what Trace Ngoma is now and why the rebrand happened, with very little reporting industry reporting about it.

ALSO READ: Trace renames Trace Africa music channel to Trace Ngoma

Coronavirus: South Africa's broadcasting regulator ICASA suspends all public hearings, bans all visitors from its premises.

by Thinus Ferreira

South Africa's broadcasting regulator, the Independent Communication Authority of South Africa (ICASA), has immediately suspended all public hearings for regulatory issues and has placed a ban on all visitors to its offices as the Covid-19 virus rapidly spreads in South Africa and globally.

ICASA says ithe broadcasting regulator is reviewing its day-to-day business given the spread of the global novel coronavirus pandemic.

On Sunday evening president Cyril Ramaphosa declared a national state of disaster in South Africa that included a ban on gatherings of 100 people or more.

"ICASA has activated the crisis management initiatives as required by the organisation's business continuity policy to ensure its preparedness to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic."

ICASA has suspended all public hearings and will monitor and assess the situation in month's time.

ICASA has banned visitors to ICASA premises which includes all visits, both local and international with customer walk-ins that are also suspended.

"We are reducing face-to-face meetings by encouraging the use of telephones, email correspondence and video/teleconferencing in lieu of in-person gatherings, particularly for meetings with clients or stakeholders," says ICASA.

"We are cognisant of the fact that the spread of the virus will have an effect on our business," says Willington Ngwepe, ICASA CEO.

"However, ICASA is in full support of government initiatives in curbing the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic; but we will endeavour to adhere to our turn-around times as contemplated in our respective divisional standard operating procedures."

"Any other delays will be communicated on time to our respective stakeholders."

Willington Ngwepe appointed as new CEO of South Africa's broadcasting regulator, Icasa.

Willington Ngwepe has been appointed as the new CEO of South Africa's broadcasting regulator, Icasa, after he's been acting CEO since early July.

Willington Ngwepe took over from the suspended Pakamile Pongwana who quit in August and left under a could before he could face charges over alleged sexual harassment.

Willington Ngwepe has been the chief operating officer (COO) of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) since September 2014.

"In this role he has been part of the Icasa leadership team that oversaw the implementation of Icasa's organisational realignment in 2015," says the broadcasting regulator.

"The council is excited about the appointment of Willington Ngwepe and we have full confidence in his leadership and management skills," says Paris Mashile, Icasa's acting council chairperson.

"He is indeed the ideal incumbent to usher Icasa into the new phase as we tackle some of the burning issues such as the high cost of data, spectrum-related projects, and so on."

Willington Ngwepe holds a BA (law), LLB and LLM (communications law) degrees from the University of the Witwatersrand as well as LLM (tax) from the University of South Africa.

BREAKING. Suspended Icasa CEO Pakamile Pongwana gone under a cloud from broadcasting regulator by 'mutual' decision after sexual harassment claims.

The beleaguered and suspended boss of South Africa's broadcasting regulator Icasa Phakamile Pongwana has quit before he got pushed with Icasa announcing in a terse Wednesday evening statement that the embattled Pakamile Pongwana is out by "mutual separation".

The controversial Pakamile Pongwana was placed on "precautionary suspension" by Icasa on 6 July pending a disciplinary hearing.

According to reports, Pakamile Pongwana was suspended over alleged sexual harassment claims and is now gone from Icasa under a cloud instead of facing a disciplinary hearing.

On Wednesday evening Icasa said that it's chief operating officer (COO) Willington Ngwepe will continue to act as Icasa's acting CEO until a new CEO has been appointed.

Icasa didn't elaborate further and didn't specify what golden handshake payout Pakamile Pongwana will be getting, if any, since his contract only ends a year from now in September 2018.

Pakamile Pongwana has been the Icasa CEO since November 2013.

In July the City Press newspaper reported that legal opinions given to Icasa found sufficient ground to charge Pakamile Pongwana to a disciplinary hearing for alleged sexual harassment of an employee.

Pakamile Pongwana allegedly also "displayed gross insolence and insubordination, which are dismissable offences as they constitute misconduct. This related to the disrespectful, condescending and aggressive" way that he treated Icasa council members.