We are advising NBCUniversal on the transaction to relaunch MultiChoice’s Showmax service using the Peacock platform

Davis Polk is advising NBCUniversal on a platform technology licensing and services agreement being entered into as part of its partnership with MultiChoice Group and Sky to relaunch Multichoice Group’s Showmax streaming service and bring content and technology to streaming customers across sub-Saharan Africa. MultiChoice Group will own 70% of the new Showmax group and NBCUniversal will own 30%. NBCUniversal and Sky will provide ongoing support through the licensing of both technology and content and the relaunched Showmax streaming service will be powered by Peacock’s leading, globally-scaled streaming technology platform. The service will have a vast content proposition, with local content, international content licensed from NBCUniversal and Sky, third party content from HBO, Warner Brothers International, Sony and live English Premier League football.

NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation, owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment television networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, world-renowned theme parks and a suite of leading Internet-based businesses. Peacock, a premium streaming service run by NBCUniversal, is home to various broadcast and cable networks, along with films from Universal Pictures, DreamWorks Animation and Focus Features.

MutliChoice Group is an entertainment company providing video entertainment to the African markets. It provides its content through direct to home (DTH), digital terrestrial television (DTT) and online video entertainment services. The entertainment platforms of the company include GOtv, Showmax, DStv and others. The company derives a majority of revenue from South Africa.

The Davis Polk intellectual property and technology transactions team includes partner Frank J. Azzopardi and associate Christopher C. Woller. All members of the Davis Polk team are based in the New York office.

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