Showmax’s operations in Africa will be merged with MultiChoice’s DStv Digital Media, according to a letter sent to staff by Imtiaz Patel, CEO of Naspers’s video entertainment unit.
In the letter, which TechCentral has seen, Patel said all DStv Digital Media and Showmax Africa employees will fall under one area reporting into MultiChoice South Africa CEO Mark Rayner.
Showmax, which was launched two years ago by Naspers outside the MultiChoice stable — apparently in the hope of fostering healthy competition between the units — will continue to be led outside Africa by John Kotsaftis.
“The time has come for us to align these two services more closely to create an even better entertainment experience for our customers and to truly innovate in this space,” Patel said in the letter to staff.
“This is an opportunity for us to truly leverage the skills and capabilities we have built in these two teams, and create greater synergy.
“For this reason, we will be bringing Showmax Africa and DStv Digital Media together in Africa to create a new digital division (final name to be decided) reporting directly into me…”
Rayner has been tasked with overseeing the transition while the group searches for an “appropriate person to head this division”.
“Graeme Cumming, GM for DStv Digital Media, and Chris Savides, Showmax head of Africa, will continue to provide leadership,” Patel said. — (c) 2017 NewsCentral Media