Thursday, February 18, 2016

Google Play Movies launches in South Africa and Southern Africa as the latest video-on-demand (VOD) entrant but with no access to TV series catalogue.


Google has launched its Google Play Movies video-on-demand (VOD) service in South Africa, although the service only offers films and no TV shows and series.

Google Play Movies adds to the existing competition of Naspers' ShowMax, Netflix South Africa, MTN's VU and PCCW Global's OnTapTV.com which inexplicably went offline on Wednesday with service which was restored later.

Google Play Movies launched in Southern Africa with the VOD service that's also available in neighbouring countries like Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Mauritius, Uganda, Tanzania and Zambia.

TV shows are not available in South Africa through Google Play Movies yet but is available in the United States and Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, France, Germany and Japan.

The access to Google Play Movies comes two months after the launch of Google Play Music that gives users access to millions of songs, including South African music, at a rental fee of R59.99 per month.

Older titles on Google Movies Play cost R11.99 with newer titles costing R34.99. Renting a movie gives a user access to it for 48 hours once you start watching.

Movie titles on Google Movies Play can also be bought ranging from R39.99 to R149.99. Google Movies Play is available through the Google Play website, as well on Android and iOS through the Google Play Movies app.