Top Sky executive Andrea Zappia has assumed the role of chairman at MultiChoice Group’s Showmax, Africa’s largest streaming service, following a Comcast deal. The appointment, confirmed by MultiChoice and reflected on Zappia’s LinkedIn profile, occurred this month. Zappia, formerly Sky’s chief executive officer for new markets and businesses, joined MultiChoice’s board in September.
Showmax, operational in 50 African countries, relaunched with Comcast’s support and technology on Monday. MultiChoice CEO Calvo Mawela aims for the streaming service to generate $1 billion in revenue within five years, marking the first time revenue figures for Showmax will be separately disclosed.
In a partnership formed in March, MultiChoice, Comcast’s NBCUniversal, and Sky collaborated to expand audiences in Africa, home to the world’s fastest-growing population. Currently, MultiChoice holds a 70% stake in Showmax, with Comcast holding the remaining balance and the option to increase its ownership.
Capitalizing on the popularity of football and local shows among young, tech-savvy Africans using phones for various services, Showmax plans to operate on the Peacock streaming platform. The platform will include English Premier League content as part of its offerings.
Showmax CEO Marc Jury emphasized the strategic advantage of combining Comcast’s international experience with MultiChoice’s African expertise, making them highly competitive on the continent. The overarching goal is to significantly scale the business, seizing opportunities in diverse content categories.
