by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice and M-Net are once again levering its set of linear TV channels on DStv to try and drive sampling and subscriber uptake for its video streaming service Showmax, with the pay-TV service that will window the first episode of The Real Housewives of Lagos on Saturday night on its Africa Magic channels.

The Real Housewives of Lagos, produced by Livespot 360 and distributed by NBCUniversal Formats, will be broadcast on Saturday night on MultiChoice’s Africa Magic Showcase (DStv 151) and Africa Magic Urban (DStv DStv 153) channels on DStv at 22:00 (South African time) and 21:00 (West African time).

The Real Housewives of Lagos is executive produced by Deola Art Alade and Dare Art Alade, with Hadizat Ibrahim as series producer and with directors Portia Hlubi and Awal Abdulfatai.

he Real Housewives of Lagos stars a set of so-called “Nigerian housewives” Carolyna Hutchings, Laura Ikeji, Chioma Ikokwu, Toyin Lawani-Adebayo, Iyabo Ojo and Mariam Timmer flaunting their wealth, conspicuous consumption, doing snarky put-downs of other women and fighting with one another, similar to the American franchise.

With the launch of The Walt Disney Company’s Disney+ streamer coming in May in South Africa, and with other global streamers like Amazon Prime Video, Netflix and Apple TV+ already active in South Africa and across the African continent, the pressure is ever-increasing on MultiChoice to drive subscriber uptake for Showmax.