The latest news from MultiChoice Nigeria reveals a concerning trend of losing 243,000 subscribers in just a span of 5 months. This drop in subscribers is attributed to the economic challenges faced in Nigeria, including high inflation rates exceeding 30%, leading to a cutback on non-essential expenses such as TV subscriptions. MultiChoice’s CEO, Calvo Mawela, acknowledged the tough operating conditions, with the company facing significant losses in its “Rest of Africa” division as well.
In addition to the subscriber losses, MultiChoice is also feeling the pressure from the streaming wars and changing viewer habits. To address this, the company is focusing on the growth of its streaming service, Showmax, which has seen a 50% year-on-year growth. MultiChoice has invested additional funds in Showmax to support its expansion in response to the rising popularity of streaming services across Africa.
Despite the challenges faced, Mawela remains optimistic about MultiChoice’s future, citing various initiatives and a strong liquidity buffer of over R10 billion that will help the company weather the storm. The company is also making strategic cost-cutting decisions to navigate the economic headwinds and remain competitive in the market.
In a separate development, the tech scene in Africa is witnessing a rise in mergers and acquisitions (M&A), with exits becoming a common strategy for startup founders. Ventures Platform’s Managing Partner, Dotun Olowoporoku, emphasizes the importance of data-driven decision-making for founders to navigate the path to building massive businesses and creating exit opportunities for investors. By remaining flexible and open to pivoting based on market feedback, founders can maximize the potential for success and growth.
Lastly, Google Chrome on iOS has introduced new features that support image and text search directly within the browser. Users can now search for items by snapping a photo and adding specific keywords, eliminating the need to use external tools like Google Lens. This update also includes the ability to save files and photos to Google Drive or Google Photos directly from Chrome, making it easier to manage and organize content on iOS devices. Apple is also set to introduce its own Visual Intelligence tool with the iPhone 16, further enhancing the image search capabilities on mobile devices. Google Chrome continues to roll out new features and updates to enhance user experience. One of the latest updates includes the ability to save files directly to Google Drive, which will be stored in a “Saved from Chrome” folder. This makes it easier for users to access their saved files across different devices and platforms.
In addition, users can now long-press a photo to send it straight to Google Photos. This new feature streamlines the process of saving and organizing photos, making it convenient for users to manage their photo collections.
Another exciting update is the introduction of “Shopping Insights” in Chrome. This feature displays a “Good Deal Now” badge when users are getting a solid price on a product, along with price history and other buying options. This helps users make informed purchasing decisions and ensures they are getting the best deal available.
Furthermore, addresses in Chrome will soon be interactive, allowing users to tap on an address to quickly access a mini-map. This feature simplifies the process of checking out locations without leaving the browser, making it more convenient for users to navigate and explore new places.
In case you missed them, there are several job opportunities available in prominent tech companies. Paystack, Moniepoint, Interswitch, and Flutterwave are all hiring for various roles. Additionally, there are internship and remote job opportunities in different fields available for those seeking new opportunities.
Stay updated on the latest trends and news in the African tech space by following Techpoint Africa’s WhatsApp channel. Keep informed and connected with the tech community to stay ahead of the curve.
Overall, these new features and updates in Google Chrome aim to enhance user productivity, streamline tasks, and provide a seamless browsing experience. Embrace these changes and make the most out of your browsing experience with Google Chrome.
