The dominance of Showmax at The National Film and TV Awards South Africa – including a sweep of fourteen awards and the coveted Best Television/Streaming Network title – reveals a peculiar truth about African television: the continent’s storytelling renaissance isn’t coming from traditional broadcasters, but from a homegrown streaming service.
The streamer’s remarkable haul, celebrated at Tshwane’s Opera House on 9 November 2024, represents more than just industry recognition—it signals a fundamental shift in how African stories are being told and consumed.
Consider “The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip – South Africa,” filmed in Jamaica. Its success—winning Best Reality Series—demonstrates how African productions can successfully adapt global formats while maintaining distinctly local flavour. This delicate balance between international appeal and cultural authenticity has become Showmax’s hallmark.
The breadth of Showmax’s victories is particularly telling. From Bonko Khoza’s chilling portrayal of serial killer Napoleon Dingiswayo in “Red Ink” to the ground-breaking success of “The Mommy Club,” the platform has demonstrated mastery across genres. These aren’t just awards; they’re indicators of a maturing industry that can compete on a global stage.
What’s particularly noteworthy is how this success has coincided with Showmax’s strategic partnership with Comcast’s NBCUniversal and Sky, launched in February 2024. This collaboration has allowed the platform to offer premium international content — like HBO’s “The Penguin” and “Dune: Prophecy” — alongside its celebrated local productions.
The platform’s achievement extends beyond entertainment value. By investing in diverse local content, from Afrikaans series like “Diepe Waters” to isiXhosa-language productions, Showmax has created a cultural repository that both preserves and evolves African storytelling traditions.
The implications for Africa’s creative economy are profound. Success breeds success, and Showmax’s achievements are likely to attract more investment in local production, creating opportunities for emerging talent and established creators alike. The platform’s commitment to local content hasn’t just won awards — it’s helping build a sustainable entertainment ecosystem.
As streaming continues to reshape how we consume content, Showmax’s triumph suggests that the future of African television won’t be determined by international players alone. Instead, it points to a future where local perspectives and stories don’t just compete with global content — they help define it.