Media company Naspers launched ShowMax yesterday (19 August), a new Video on Demand service which offers online streaming of TV shows and movies.
It enters the market as a competitor to the already existing services of VIDI and MTN's damp squib Front Row and pre-empts the arrival of global VOD service Netflix, which launches in South Africa next year.
ShowMax works on the usual VOD subscription model and costs R99 a month for unlimited access to the shows and movies, which can be viewed on five devices simultaneously for the one fee.
Of course the most crucial aspect to any VOD service is the line-up of content. Because ShowMax is owned by Naspers, who own DStv too, the service is predominantly a collection of series from DStv.
American shows in the catalogue include all current seasons of Game of Thrones, The Following, Boardwalk Empire, Revenge and Grey's Anatomy.
There's also a
Best of British section which includes Downton Abbey, Luther and Whitechapel.
The service also offers South African content and features a combo of DStv and SABC series. Shows in the launch line-up include the first seasons of isiBaya, Zabalaza, Intersexions and Hopeville; three seasons of Binnelanders and Home Affairs and the 2006 drama series Een Skoenlapper.
Here are links to help you navigate the areas of South African content to see the full line-up for yourself:
South African shows
kykNet specific shows
The service is offering a 7-day free trial so you can get in a ton of free movies in that time to try it out;). As with all VOD services, the price isn't inclusive of the bandwidth required to stream so this is an added cost that has to be factored in.
Here's a link to the site so you can see more:
ShowMax
Take a look and let us know what you think.