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ShowMax takes on Netflix in Kenya

Johannesburg - Video on demand (VOD) service ShowMax has expanded into Africa with a launch of the service in Kenya on Wednesday.

For the first tim,e ShowMax has launched a two-tier service in country with an additional ShowMax select package.

“This is a first-of-its-kind video concept that directly addresses the needs of Kenyan internet TV consumers,” Richard Boorman, head of communications for ShowMax said.

The ShowMax Premium will be priced at KSh 880 (R119.36) per month, with a range of international and local content, while the ShowMax Select, priced at KSh 330 (R44,76) per month.

“The ShowMax Select package is a mobile-first, data optimised product that offers reduced data consumption with savings of up to 75%, has a specific focus on local content, and is paid for using M-PESA,” Boorman said. 

Both packages allow subscribers to either stream content or download up to 25 shows to watch offline. 

Downloaded content is valid for 30 days. Data usage is charged separately and works with a customer’s existing data bundles.

ShowMax’s John Kotsaftis said that the service would be the first to put strong emphasis on local content including having sports clips. 

“It’s also the first to be optimised for mobile usage, reducing data consumption by as much as 75%. And it’s the first to deliver all of this at an affordable price point,” he said. 

ShowMax says that using the most data-efficient setting, downloading a 20-minute TV show will use approximately 80 MB. Meanwhile, a 7.5 GB data bundle is enough for more than 90 episodes.

ShowMax rival Netflix has already been available in Kenya since earlier this year.

The cheapest Neflix package in Kenya is priced at Kshs 816 (R110,68) per month and the most expensive at Kshs 1224 (R166,03). 

In August, the ShowMax service turned one, clocking up 10 million views.

*Fin24 is part of Media24. Both Media24 and ShowMax are owned by Naspers.

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