Showmax is an online subscription video on demand (SVOD) service which launched in South Africa on 19 August 2015. Showmax is employing a localisation strategy to take on established video on demand competitors with a focus on local content and partnerships with mobile telcos. In South Africa, Showmax competes with Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.Showmax is a part of MultiChoice Group (which itself is a spin-off of Naspers, owner of 28.9% stake in Tencent which own similar service, Tencent Video and iflix). Showmax’s engineering team is based in the Czech Republic. Showmax publishes engineering and research articles on a technical blog.Showmax offers consumers a free 14-day trial. Add Showmax To Your DStv Bill
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Type of site
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Video on demand |
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| Available in | English |
| Headquarters | South Africa |
| Area served | Andorra, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha,
Australia, Austria, Belgium, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Monaco, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Portugal, Reunion, Rwanda, Saint Helena, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, South Africa, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, United Kingdom, Zambia, Zimbabwe |
| Industry | Entertainment |
| Parent | MultiChoice |
| URL | showmax |
| Advertising | No |
| Registration | Required |
| Launched | 19 August 2015 |
| Current status | Active |
Showmax History
In December 2015, Showmax expanded its reach to audiences in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, North America and Canada.
In May 2016, Showmax expanded to 36 countries in Africa, taking the total number of countries in which Showmax is available to 65. Add Showmax To Your DStv Bill
In July 2016, Showmax passed the 10 million views milestone.
In August 2016, the Showmax logo was changed from framed black and white logotype using camel case to an all lower-case logotype with added dark magenta and teal stripes.
In October 2016, Showmax launched Showmax Select and Showmax Premium in Kenya.
In January 2017, Showmax partnered with SEACOM to put caching servers in Nairobi, Kenya.
In February 2017, Showmax launched in Poland.
In December 2017, Saturday Night Live Polska launched.
On 31 January 2019, Showmax was closed in Poland.
On 7 July 2020, Showmax launches Showmax Pro in Kenya and Nigeria. The new service bundles the existing Showmax entertainment service with music channels, news, and live sport streaming from SuperSport. The offering includes all the games from the UK’s Premier League, Italy’s Serie A and La Liga, and South Africa’s Premier Soccer League. Add Showmax To Your DStv Bill
Showmax Features
Downloads
Showmax’s download feature allows users to download up to 25 shows or movies at a time and watch them offline on Android and iOS tablets and smartphones. There are four different quality settings to reduce the amount of data required to download.
Bandwidth capping
In August 2016, Showmax launched a bandwidth-capping tool that allows users to choose different quality levels. Subscribers can select either a low bandwidth cap of 0.3 GB/hr, a medium cap of 0.7 GB/hr, or leave usage uncapped.
Multiple profile
In August 2016, Showmax added a multiple profile feature including the ability to set up child-friendly profiles with four age settings.
Mobile plan
In October 2019, Showmax introduced a mobile plan at 50% of the cost of the standard subscription price. According to Showmax, “Smartphones and tablets are, for many in Africa, the primary, if not only, window to the internet, and up until now none of the most popular SVoD services has designed a product specifically for mobile usage.”
Showmax Pro
In July 2020, Showmax launched live sport streaming service Showmax Pro and began roll out across 40 countries in Africa. In June 2019, Showmax began testing sport live-streaming, and the new Showmax Pro service is based on the results of this. In addition to the standard version of Showmax Pro there will also be a mobile-only version at half the price.
Showmax Device support
This is a list of supported devices:
- Personal Computers (using web browsers)
- Apple iPhones and iPads running iOS 9.3 or higher
- Apple TV (4th Generation)
- Android phones and tablets running Android 4.1 or higher
- Android media and TV devices running Android 4.1 or higher
- Samsung Smart TVs (2012 and later)
- Samsung Tizen Smart TVs (2015 and later)
- LG NetCast Smart TVs (2012 to 2014)
- LG WebOS Smart TVs (2014 and later)
- Hisense Vidaalite 2.0, Vidaa U2 Smart TVs (2016 and later, Africa only)
- DStv Explora (South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria only)
- Apple AirPlay
- Google Cast (casting from the Showmax app for Android or iOS)
- Xbox One
- PlayStation 4 (South Africa only)
Showmax Availability
Showmax is available in the following countries:
- In Africa:
Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritius, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Reunion, Rwanda, Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe
- Outside of Africa:
Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and United Kingdom
Showmax Content
In Africa the Showmax catalogue consists of Hollywood, British, Kenyan and South African content. Outside of Africa the Showmax catalogue consists of Showmax Originals, kykNET International, M-Net, Mzansi Magic, and Via content targeted primarily at an expat audience.
It has premium kids entertainment provided by The Walt Disney Company Africa, ViacomCBS Networks EMEAA, BBC Africa, Warner Bros. Africa and more.
Exclusive HBO content fresh from the United States.
Showmax has content in English, Afrikaans, isiZulu, Kiswahili, Sepedi, SeTswana, Sesotho and isiXhosa.
Showmax Originals
Tali’s Wedding Diary
On 13 June 2017, Showmax announced that filming of its first original series Tali’s Wedding Diary, a mockumentary featuring Julia Anastasopoulos, had begun. On 16 November 2017, Showmax released a trailer for Tali’s Wedding Diary. It was announced that it would be available on Showmax on 14 December 2017.
The Girl From St Agnes
Showmax’s first original drama series, The Girl From St Agnes was released on 31 January 2019. In the eight-part murder mystery, the mysterious death of a schoolgirl at an elite boarding school sets off a desperate hunt for the truth. The series was filmed on location in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands.
Trippin with Skhumba
In February 2019, Showmax announced its first original travel show, Trippin with Skhumba,[40] hosted by South African comedian Skhumba Hlope. The theme music used for the series is the hit record “Spirit” by Kwesta. The series launched on 28 February. Guests on the first season include South African comedians such as Celeste Ntuli, Siya Seya, Salesman, Mashabela Galane, Tumi Morake and Schalk Bezuidenhout.
Somizi & Mohale: The Union
In February 2020, Showmax premiered Somizi & Mohale: The Union. The four-part wedding special featuring Somizi Mhlongo and Mohale Motaung broke viewing records on Showmax.
Rage
In March 2020, Showmax launched its first original horror movie. In Rage, a group of school-leavers goes to a tiny coastal town to celebrate the end of their school careers.
Life With Kelly Khumalo
In August 2020, Showmax premiered reality show Life With Kelly, starring award-winning South African singer Kelly Khumalo.
Real Housewives of Durban
On the 29th of January 2021, Showmax premiered the Showmax-exclusive Durban franchise of the The Real Housewives. The show is based on an ensemble cast of six women from Durban. The season one cast is made up of Sorisha Naidoo, Ann-Toni Ludick, Kgomotso Ndungane, Ayanda Ncwane, Nonku Williams, and Nonkanyiso Conco. [1]
This is How To Add Showmax To Your DStv Bill From Your Desktop
DStv Premium Customers
- Log in to your DStv account.
- Locate the Showmax banner on your account dashboard.
- Click on activate.
- You will be prompted to create a Showmax account.
- Click on create account or sign in and start watching if you already have a Showmax account.
DStv Compact Plus, Compact, Family or Access Customers
- Log in to your DStv account.
- Locate the 50% off Showmax banner on your account dashboard.
- Click on activate.
- You will be asked to add Showmax for 50% off.
- Click ‘Add to bill’.
- You will be redirected to the eazy self service payment portal.
- Under payment option, choose ‘once off payment’ to top up your DStv account with the balance of this month’s Showmax subscription.
- Enter your bank card details and click ‘Save and pay’.
- Once payment is successful, select ‘Activate Account’ to start watching Showmax.
How To Add Showmax To DStv Bill From My DStv App
- Download the My DStv app (iOS or Android).
- Select ‘Showmax on us’ followed by ‘Activate Now’.
- Start watching.
