by Thinus Ferreira
MultiChoice's subscription video-on-demand service on Wednesday morning announced that it's launching its Showmax Pro sports-streaming added service in South Africa from 19 August but with no free trial period because of sport rights.
In a note to Showmax subscribers, Showmax said that "from 19 August 2020, we'll be offering a new subscription plan - called Showmax Pro - in your territory".
Showmax Pro will cost R449 per month, and Showmax Pro Mobile will cost R225 per month.
Showmax Pro launched in Nigeria and Kenya on 7 July, and a week later expanded to 40 more countries across sub-Saharan Africa, but excluding South Africa.
Showmax Pro, an extension of the existing SVOD service, bundles the existing Showmax entertainment service together with music channels, news, and live sport streaming from SuperSport, and is the first major brand delineation since Showmax launched in 2015.
The additional content offered through Showmax Pro features all Premier League, Serie A, La Liga and PSL games, and other live sport events.
Other Showmax Pro sports include UEFA Champions and Europa Leagues (South Africa only), Premier Soccer League, motorsport (not available in SA) like MotoGP, Dakar Rally, NASCAR Cup and tennis (not available in SA): All Grand Slams and ATP Tour events.
Showmax Pro will also show athletics (Diamond League, World Challenge League and more), running: Berlin, Boston, London, NYC, Soweto Marathons and more), boxing (selected IBF, WBA, WBO, WBC and African Boxing events), and in South Africa only - swimming, extreme sports, eSports, basketball, triathlon, horse racing, EFC, netball and hockey.
Showmax Pro won't show cycling in South Africa at launch, although it will show the Tour De France and World Tour events in other territories.
Due to the nature of sport licensing MultiChoice is offering no free trial on its Showmax Pro or Showmax Pro Mobile plans.
The Showmax Pro subscription plan includes a high definition (HD) quality video stream with access to selected sports, news & entertainment content offering; available on various devices; offers two simultaneous viewing streams; enabled for 5 registered devices.
The Showmax Pro Mobile subscription plan offers only a Standard defininition (SD) quality video stream,with selected sports, news & entertainment content offering; available only on smartphones and tablets; offers only one viewing stream; and enabled for one registered device.
