MultiChoice to revamp Showmax, launch betting amid losses

JOHANNESBURG – MultiChoice Group Ltd., (JSE:MCGJ) Africa’s premier pay-TV provider, has announced a strategic shift including an overhaul of its Showmax streaming platform and the introduction of a sports betting service in South Africa. This move comes as the company reported its third consecutive semi-annual net loss of 1.32 billion rand ($72.4 million) today. The loss was primarily attributed to the impact of Nigeria’s currency liberalization and persistent power outages in South Africa.

In mid-June, Nigeria allowed its currency to float freely against the dollar, resulting in a 40% devaluation. This significant change forced MultiChoice to reevaluate its inter-group loans, which led to substantial foreign exchange losses. Concurrently, South Africa has been grappling with continuous blackouts that have led to a 5% decrease in active subscriber days for the company.

The financial repercussions of these events were reflected in MultiChoice’s stock performance, with a slight decline of 0.6% following an earlier, more dramatic drop of 3.6%. In response to these challenges, MultiChoice is taking decisive action to enhance its digital offerings and diversify its revenue streams. The planned improvements to Showmax are aimed at strengthening its position in the competitive streaming market, while the sports betting service is expected to tap into the burgeoning market for online betting in South Africa.

Investors and subscribers alike will be watching closely as MultiChoice navigates these operational headwinds and repositions itself for future growth amid a rapidly changing economic landscape.

InvestingPro Insights

MultiChoice Group Ltd. has been navigating some rough waters, but there are key data points and insights to consider. According to InvestingPro, MCGJ’s revenue growth has been accelerating, indicating that despite the challenges, the company is still expanding its customer base or increasing its revenue per user. This aligns with the company’s strategic shift towards digital offerings and diversification of revenue streams.

InvestingPro data also highlights a declining trend in earnings per share, which is consistent with the reported net loss. This might raise concerns for potential investors, but it’s important to note that MCGJ is a prominent player in the Media industry, so it has a strong market position that could help it weather these temporary setbacks.

Finally, MCGJ is trading at a low revenue valuation multiple, which, combined with the strong free cash flow yield implied by its valuation, suggests that the stock might be undervalued. This could present an attractive opportunity for investors looking for value buys. There are more insights available in the InvestingPro product, including 8 additional tips related to MCGJ.

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