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MultiChoice, Africa’s entertainment powerhouse, has confirmed that its streaming platforms, DStv Stream and Showmax, are technically equipped to broadcast content in ultra-high definition 4K. However, the launch hinges on one critical factor: sufficient customer demand in its African markets, including Zimbabwe, where high-speed, uncapped internet remains a luxury for many.
The company’s stance underscores the vast digital divide between Africa and the developed world, where 4K streaming has been a standard offering for years. While international giants like Netflix and Disney+ have long provided 4K content, MultiChoice has deliberately held back, citing the unique economic and infrastructural realities of the continent.
In a statement, MultiChoice SA CEO Byron Du Plessis explained the company’s cautious approach.
“We regularly review the feasibility of offering 4K to our customers, and should it prove commercially viable in future, we will announce this to the market.”
By Gamuchirai Mapako
This commercial viability is intrinsically linked to internet access. MultiChoice’s primary markets are in Africa, where broadband infrastructure is limited and a significant portion of the population accesses the internet primarily through smartphones using expensive, capped data bundles. This contrasts sharply with the main markets of international streamers, which are in developed nations with widespread, affordable fibre-to-the-home connectivity.
The data consumption figures are staggering. MultiChoice has previously stated that 4K streaming guzzles approximately 7GB of data per hour, compared to about 2GB per hour for standard Full HD (1080p). For the average Zimbabwean consumer, for whom data costs are a primary concern, such usage is prohibitively expensive and effectively places 4K content out of reach for millions.
Despite the market challenges, MultiChoice’s technology is ready. The company confirmed to MyBroadband that its DStv Stream service already supports 4K playback on selected content for compatible devices.
“Customers who choose the 4K option in the app will get it where available,” the company stated. It clarified, however, that aside from technical tests such as the successful 4K broadcast of the 2022 FIFA World Cup on live TV and DStv Stream there is currently no 4K content available on the platform. The infrastructure, from encoding to delivery systems, is in place but awaits a business case to activate it broadly.
The story is different for MultiChoice’s standalone streaming service, Showmax. The platform does not yet offer any content in 4K resolution. The company argues that Full HD strikes the right balance between visual quality and data affordability for its customer base.
Showmax’s strategy is heavily oriented toward mobile users; two of its three subscription tiers are designed exclusively for smartphones. On a small mobile screen, the visual leap from 1080p to 4K is far less noticeable than on a large television, further reducing the immediate need for the higher resolution.
The pricing strategy in Zimbabwe highlights MultiChoice’s focus on affordability. Showmax’s primary entertainment plan is priced at an accessible point, making it a competitive offering in the market. In contrast, Netflix’s Premium plan, which includes Zimbabwe, costs over US$10 more per month. Netflix’s Basic plan, which is similarly priced to the standard Showmax plan, only supports standard HD (720p) and offers one less concurrent stream.
This makes Showmax’s current HD offering a strong value proposition for cost-conscious Zimbabwean consumers. The company has emphasised that data costs remain a “key concern” for its subscribers, and introducing a data-intensive feature like 4K without widespread, affordable uncapped internet would be commercially unwise.
Nevertheless, the foundation for a future upgrade is solid. The new version of Showmax is built on NBCUniversal’s Peacock platform, which has inherent support for 4K resolution. “As usage patterns evolve and appetite for higher resolutions grows, we’re well positioned to roll out 4K more broadly should the business case support the move,” MultiChoice said.
The rollout of fibre optic networks in Zimbabwe, particularly in major urban areas like Harare and Bulawayo, is a positive step but remains largely inaccessible to lower-income households. As companies continue to expand their fibre footprints, the landscape of home internet could change, creating a larger addressable market for high-data services like 4K streaming.
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