From downloads to bandwidth capping, ShowMax is designed with the South African audience in mind.
Launched little over a year ago, ShowMax internet TV has built up the largest collection of online entertainment on the continent and introduced a range of features to deal with some of the biggest concerns about streaming: expensive data and unreliable internet.
Here’s how ShowMax, which costs R99 a month, has been built for the South African market.
1. Don’t want to use data? Download and watch offline
Mobile data can be expensive in South Africa. With the ShowMax iOS and Android apps you can download up to 25 shows over Wi-Fi and keep them for 30 days to watch offline. You’re also able to select a smaller download size to save space on your device and use less data if you have to resort to using your data bundle.
Even if you don’t have internet at home, you can work that office Wi-Fi or hit up the nearest free Wi-Fi hotspot. It’s perfect for when you’re heading into areas with no connectivity – flights and road trips will never be the same again.
2. Control how much data you use with the bandwidth capping feature
There it is again: the “D” word. Data costs are the biggest barrier holding back the adoption of internet TV in South Africa. ShowMax lets you choose the video-streaming quality so you can get the most out of your data. Five hours of streaming will use about 1.5GB on low quality, 3.5GB on medium quality and 7GB uncapped. Check out the nifty data calculator to get an idea of how much data you’ll need when you’re gearing up for a massive binge-watching session.
You can also set different quality streaming for different devices – the kids can watch cartoons on low quality on the tablet, for example, while you stream high quality to your smart TV.
3. Watch local shows and the best international hits
From Hollywood to Hartbeespoort, the ShowMax collection has been handpicked to appeal to all South African audiences – from those who love local shows like Binnelanders, Vetkoekpaleis and Isibaya to those who binge-watch the biggest international titles like Game of Thrones, Mr Robot, Ray Donovan and Vikings.
4. Share and watch two shows at the same time
ShowMax lets you watch two different shows on two screens at the same time using one account. So if you want to watch The Affair but your kids want to watch My Little Pony, they can. You can also set up kid friendly profiles to restrict what the kids can view.
5. Don’t want to use a credit card? Buy prepaid vouchers
Not everyone has a credit card in South Africa, and not everyone wants to use a credit card to buy online services. This is where ShowMax prepaid vouchers come in.
You can buy a one, three or six month ShowMax voucher at more than 500 outlets across SA.
- Selected Pick n Pay stores
- Selected CNA stores
- Game stores
- Makro stores
- HiFi Corp stores
- Incredible Connection stores
- FNB eBucks store
6. Watch on multiple devices
ShowMax has been optimised for the most popular devices used in the South African market and is the only internet TV service available on the DStv Explora.
You can watch ShowMax on your Android or IOS smartphone or tablet; on your PC or laptop; on smart TVs; Google Chromecast and Apple TV with more devices on the way. Console gamers – watch this space.
7. Benefit from local partnerships
ShowMax has partnered with local banks, retailers and internet service providers to give users great deals from data to devices and promo vouchers. For example, ShowMax’s partnership with Telkom gives customers 100GB for R99pm with Telkom’s Entertainment Bolt-on to stream VOD services like ShowMax.
Sign up for a seven-day free trial to try ShowMax out for yourself. Head over to ShowMax.com to subscribe and start watching now.