The new service bundles the existing Showmax entertainment service with music channels, news, and live sport streaming from SuperSport.
African video-on-demand service Showmax has launched a new live-streaming service called Showmax Pro. Showmax Pro features all Premier League, Serie A, La Liga and PSL games, as well as a wide range of other live sports events.
The service will initially roll out in Nigeria and Kenya, with additional countries following shortly after. The entire process is expected to be completed within six to eight weeks with coverage across sub-Saharan Africa.
Showmax originally launched in August 2015 and is available across sub-Saharan Africa. In November last year, Showmax launched a mobile-only service for smartphones and tablets featuring all of the Showmax content but at half the cost of the standard Showmax service and consuming less data. This service has also proven popular, so in addition to the standard version of Showmax Pro, there will also be a mobile-only version at half the price.
Speaking about Showmax’s history and what sets it apart, Niclas Ekdahl, CEO of the Connected Video division of MultiChoice, said: “Showmax is an African video-on-demand service with many years’ experience operating on this continent. We’re local-first, which means listening to our customers and delivering African stories told in familiar voices as well as the best that Hollywood has to offer. Our local-first strategy is an advantage because it allows us to tailor our content, apps, packages, and partnerships specifically to what’s most important in Africa.”
Talking about the role of a mobile-only option, Ekdahl said: “What else have we learned about operating an internet video service in Africa? Mobile usage is mainstream, so having a one-size-fits-all big screen service may not be the best solution here. With the mobile-only version of Showmax Pro, anyone with a smartphone in sub-Saharan Africa will be able to get the best African content, the best of Hollywood, and all of the best sporting action. This is something no other service is doing and we think it’s a game-changer.”
