Showmax

Showmax is a video streaming product operated by Showmax Holdings (Comcast/NBCUniversal + MultiChoice joint venture). This 2026 review covers operator background, the current tier ladder and the buying signals to weigh before subscribing. The service competes in the video streaming category against regional and global alternatives, and the practical decision usually comes down to feature mix, regional availability and renewal economics rather than headline price alone.

Quick facts

• Operator: Showmax Holdings (Comcast/NBCUniversal + MultiChoice joint venture)
• Headquarters: Johannesburg, South Africa / London, United Kingdom
• Public-market status: majority-owned by Comcast (NASDAQ: CMCSA) with MultiChoice as minority partner
• Founded: 2015 (relaunched as Showmax 2.0 in February 2024 on Peacock tech stack)
• Category: video streaming
• Current tiers: Entertainment / Entertainment Mobile / Premier League
• Anchor price (2026): Entertainment ZAR 99/month (~USD 5); Mobile ZAR 39/month; Premier League ZAR 79/month

What is Showmax?

Showmax is a video streaming product that builds its catalog from licensed third-party content combined with operator-funded or operator-licensed originals. Its product surface covers streaming catalog of licensed films and series alongside operator-funded originals or regional exclusives, with the recurring subscription paid through the operator's direct billing or App Store / Google Play / partner-billing surfaces. Customers buy a tier matching their usage profile; the entry tier is suitable for testing the product and higher tiers add features such as mobile, web and Smart TV apps.

Why choose Showmax

Operator and ecosystem context

Showmax is run by Showmax Holdings (Comcast/NBCUniversal + MultiChoice joint venture) out of Johannesburg, South Africa / London, United Kingdom, established 2015 (relaunched as Showmax 2.0 in February 2024 on Peacock tech stack). That matters because the video streaming category is increasingly consolidated and the operator's ownership structure (public vs. private, parent group, regulatory footprint) shapes how aggressively the product is supported and how stable the subscription terms are over multi-year renewals.

Plan structure and pricing tiers

The tier ladder splits across Entertainment for testing the service, Entertainment Mobile for everyday use, and Premier League for power users or teams. Anchor pricing for 2026: Entertainment ZAR 99/month (~USD 5); Mobile ZAR 39/month; Premier League ZAR 79/month. Consult Subger's true-price tracker for Showmax for all-in renewal costs.

Catalog and content depth

Beyond the headline features, the 2025-2026 differentiator for Showmax is 2024-2025 Showmax 2.0 launched on Peacock tech stack across 44 sub-Saharan African markets with live Premier League rights. That gives the subscription a credible roadmap for the year ahead and distinguishes it from operators that are running their video streaming catalog on autopilot.

Showmax features that matter in 2026

Highlights of the current feature set:

• streaming catalog of licensed films and series
• operator-funded originals or regional exclusives
• mobile, web and Smart TV apps
• Chromecast and AirPlay support
• offline downloads on mobile
• multi-profile household setup

Buyers should treat this list as a baseline for Showmax in the video streaming category — confirm specific feature availability for your region on the operator's site, since some features and tier names vary between countries.

Showmax pricing in 2026

Reference pricing for Showmax in 2026: Entertainment ZAR 99/month (~USD 5); Mobile ZAR 39/month; Premier League ZAR 79/month. The tier ladder typically looks like:

Subger pairs the public price with the actual all-in cost (taxes, FX conversion, promotional first-period anchors that step up at renewal):

Showmax apps and platform support

Surface availability for Showmax can vary by region and tier — confirm current app availability and supported devices on the operator's site before subscribing.

Who Showmax fits

Showmax is most likely a good match for the following buyers:

• Households that want a focused entertainment catalog with apps across mobile, web and smart tv surfaces — the core target audience for the product.
• The category-focused subscriber who specifically wants streaming catalog of licensed films and series from a video streaming operator rather than a generalist platform.
• The team or household subscriber evaluating the tier ladder (Entertainment / Entertainment Mobile / Premier League) and willing to pay up for operator-funded originals or regional exclusives.
• The cross-device user who needs apps across the surfaces listed above plus a credible upgrade path as new devices are added.
• The price-sensitive shopper who wants to track promotional anchors via Subger's true-price tracker and deals page before committing to annual billing.

Frequently asked questions

What is Showmax and who runs it?

Showmax is a video streaming product operated by Showmax Holdings (Comcast/NBCUniversal + MultiChoice joint venture) headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa / London, United Kingdom, founded 2015 (relaunched as Showmax 2.0 in February 2024 on Peacock tech stack). It is sold via direct subscription on the operator's website and apps, with payments processed through the operator's billing surfaces.

How much does Showmax cost in 2026?

Current tiers are Entertainment, Entertainment Mobile, Premier League. Anchor reference pricing for 2026: Entertainment ZAR 99/month (~USD 5); Mobile ZAR 39/month; Premier League ZAR 79/month. Confirm the live regional price on the operator's site before committing, since promotional cycles and FX conversion can shift the all-in renewal cost.

Is there a free tier or free trial for Showmax?

There is no perpetual free tier listed publicly for the standard Showmax subscription; the operator may run introductory trials periodically. Check the live signup page for current trial promotions.

Where is Showmax available?

Availability follows the operator's service footprint anchored on Johannesburg, South Africa / London, United Kingdom. Confirm regional availability on the official site before subscribing, especially for products that have country-specific catalog or pricing rules.

What 2025-2026 features set Showmax apart right now?

The current 2025-2026 differentiator is 2024-2025 Showmax 2.0 launched on Peacock tech stack across 44 sub-Saharan African markets with live Premier League rights. Together with the headline features listed above, that gives buyers a concrete signal that the subscription is being actively developed rather than coasting on a legacy catalog.

Which devices and platforms does Showmax support?

Coverage spans the surfaces shown in the platform table above. The current mobile, web and (where applicable) desktop apps are the recommended way to consume the service; older clients may be deprecated in successive releases.

How do I cancel Showmax?

Cancel through the account or subscription settings on the surface where you bought the plan: the operator's website for direct subscriptions, the App Store or Google Play for in-app purchases, or the partner billing portal for bundled subscriptions. Subger's cancellation guide for Showmax walks through each route step-by-step.

Does Showmax offer a team or family plan?

Team, household or family structures depend on the tier. The Premier League tier commonly adds multi-seat or multi-profile support; the entry Entertainment tier may restrict usage. Confirm the per-tier seat limit on the live pricing page before committing to annual billing.

Is Showmax worth it compared to video streaming alternatives?

Value depends on three factors: the specific feature mix you'll use (see the features list above), the regional price after taxes (Subger's true-price tracker for Showmax reconciles the headline price with the actual all-in renewal cost), and the credibility of the operator's 2025-2026 roadmap. Buyers should weigh these together rather than relying on headline price alone.

How can I track price changes for Showmax?

Subger's renewal tracker for Showmax records list-price changes plus promotional anchors over time. Pair it with the deals page for current discount codes and the promo codes page for stackable savings at signup.

Get started with Showmax

Confirm the current regional price on the operator's site (Entertainment ZAR 99/month (~USD 5); Mobile ZAR 39/month; Premier League ZAR 79/month), choose the tier that matches your usage (Entertainment, Entertainment Mobile are the most common starting points), and check Subger's deals page for Showmax for promotional anchors before completing checkout. Track the subscription's true renewal cost with the true-price tracker once you're signed up.

Related Subger guides

• Cancel Showmax guide
• Latest Showmax deals
• Showmax promo codes
• Showmax true price and renewal tracker
• Browse the video streaming category hub
• All services on Subger