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ShowMax considers adding download option - report

Johannesburg - Naspers-owned streaming video company ShowMax is considering adding download content to its mix, according to Bloomberg.

The Bloomberg report hinged on an unnamed source who said that downloading content could be an alternative to high costs associated with internet streaming.

Currently, ShowMax only has a streaming option where users can view video on demand content such as Game of Thrones on the service’s mobile apps and its website.

“ShowMax is only available as a streaming service at present,” Richard Boorman, spokesperson for ShowMax, told Fin24 in an emailed statement.

“We’re exploring a number of future product enhancements, but I can’t discuss any details at this point,” he said.

Fin24 also understands that technology exists to download files for limited periods of time in formats that cannot be copied, thus limiting the risk of copyright infringement.

ShowMax advises that consumers should at least use the service on a 2Mbps line but that an uncapped 4Mbps internet connection is ideal.

ShowMax, which was launched in Johannesburg last month, is aimed at being a competitor to US-based Netflix.

Netflix earlier this year said it is embarking on a global expansion and that South Africa is in its sights for the end of 2016.

At the ShowMax launch, general manager John Kotsaftis said the service consists of over 19 000 episodes and 11 000 hours of viewing time.

Demand for internet video is also expected to surge in South Africa, according to networking technology company Cisco.

The Cisco Visual Networking Index 2015 forecasts that South Africa’s internet population will grow from 15 million in 2014 to 27 million internet users in 2019.

Cisco also said South Africans are expected to download 43 billion minutes of video content by 2019.

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