Showmax

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.
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.
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, 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.
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 profiles.
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.
Device support.
This is a list of supported devices:
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
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", 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. 