Netflix competitor ShowMax launches in SA
ShowMax, the Netflix competitor from Naspers, has launched in South Africa.
The streaming service went live on 19 August, featuring international and local TV shows along with Hollywood movies as part of its content library.
Tablets, smartphones, smart TVs, and PCs are all supported by the video on demand service.
Following its launch, ShowMax outlined which broadband connection you will need to run the service, which devices are supported, and the pricing structures of its two content tiers.
Broadband and device requirements
It is recommended that ShowMax users have at least a 2Mbps Internet connection, while the company suggests a 4Mbps uncapped account or faster for an “improved viewing experience”.
Internet browsers compatible for PC viewing are:
- Internet Explorer
- Chrome
- Firefox
- Safari
Tablets, smartphones, and smart TVs will require the free ShowMax application to stream content.
Pricing and payment options
ShowMax offers a free account, which gives you limited access to its content library. Users can sign up using an email address, or their Twitter or Facebook account.
The service’s “premium tier” gives full access to the content library, and costs R99 per month. Payment options include debit or credit card, PayPal, or ShowMax voucher codes.
A free 7-day trial of the “premium” service is available with no obligations.
In terms of using multiple devices to stream ShowMax content: five devices can be registered to an account, with two allowed to access content simultaneously.
The following devices are supported:
- iPhone and iPads running iOS 7 or higher
- Android phones and tablets running Android 4.1.0 or higher
- Samsung Smart TVs (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015)
- Samsung Tizen Smart TVs (2015)
- LG NetCast Smart TVs (2012, 2013, 2014)
- LG WebOS Smart TVs (2014, 2015)
- PCs and laptops
What you can watch
Listed below are a few of the TV series and movie titles you can watch on the service.
TV series
TV series available on ShowMax include:
| TV series on ShowMax | ||
|---|---|---|
| Game of Thrones: Season 1 – 5 | The Good Wife: Season 1 – 5 | Boardwalk Empire: Season 1 – 4 |
| Ray Donovan: Season 1 – 2 | The Affair: Season 1 | Chicago Fire: Season 1 – 2 |
| Suits: Season 1 – 4 | The Sopranos: Season 1 – 6 | 12 Monkeys: Season 1 |
| The Big Bang Theory: Season 1 – 7 | Bates Motel: Season 1 – 2 | House of Lies: Season 1 – 2 |
| Californiacation – Season 1 – 7 | Pretty Little Liars: Season 1 – 4 | Chicago PD: Season 1 |
| Dexter: Season 1 – 8 | The Following: Season 1 – 2 | Arrow: Season 1 – 2 |
| The Newsroom: Season 1 – 2 | The Vampire Diaries: Season 1 – 5 | Looking: Season 1 – 2 |
| Entourage: Season 1 – 8 | Grimm: Season 1 – 3 | Shameless: Season 1 -4 |
Local productions such as Egoli, Binnelanders, and Agter Elke Man will also show on the service, along with many more international TV series.
For full listings, visit the ShowMax website.
Movies
| Movies on ShowMax | ||
|---|---|---|
| Hulk | Leap Year | Wanted |
| Liar Liar | Doom | Baby Mama |
| The Grinch | Get him to the Greek | Scarface |
| The 40 year-old Virgin | Robin Hood | Walking Tall |
| Pitch Black | The Mummy (Trilogy) | It’s Complicated |
| Van Helsing | Bean Movie | Scary Movie (1,2,3) |
| Pink Panther | Uptown Girls | American Gangster |
| Valkyrie | The Silence of the Lambs | Hannibal |
Many more movies are available through the service, the first 24 listed in the app are displayed above.
More on video streaming
Vodacom in talks with Naspers over ShowMax
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