ShowMax has recently announced that iOS users are now able to download content to their devices for watching when not connected to the Internet.
ShowMax has added new functionality to address one of the major hurdles facing South African consumers: the cost and availability of internet connectivity.
Internet TV services are taking off worldwide and changing the way people consume video entertainment. ShowMax has more than 20,000 episodes of local and international TV shows and movies to select from, and offers unlimited commercial-free viewing for R99 per month. The only things needed to access ShowMax are a smart device (e.g. smart TV, computer, tablet, or smartphone) and an internet connection.
“The internet connection is the challenge for many South Africans” said ShowMax South Africa General Manager, John Kotsaftis.
“Not everyone has fast internet access throughout the day or can afford to stream using a mobile connection. The beauty of this new download feature is that as long as you’re connected at some point, perhaps using a public WiFi hotspot, at work, or a night-time mobile data bundle, then you can still use ShowMax to get shows and movies,” added Kotsaftis
This functionality was added for Android devices in December 2015 and has now been extended to iOS devices. Up to a combined total of 25 TV shows and movies can be downloaded using the ShowMax app on tablets and smartphones. Content stored on these devices is available for up to 30 days, and once viewing of a particular show or movie has started, the user has a 48 hour window to finish watching. Content can be downloaded more than once.
Speaking about why ShowMax decided to tailor its service for South Africa, Kotsaftis said:
“We don’t subscribe to the one-size-fits-all mentality. South Africa isn’t a carbon copy of the rest of the world – we don’t have the same connectivity options as other countries and we don’t necessarily want exactly the same content.
“We’ve gone out of our way to add features making ShowMax accessible to as many South Africans as possible. We introduced vouchers at major retailers so you don’t need a credit card, and we’ve added downloads so you can still use ShowMax even if you don’t have the best internet connection. It’s all about giving local consumers what they need.”
In order to access the new download functionality, iPhone and iPad users need to update their ShowMax app via the app store.
