Titles on the service include local movies, series and sports shows at launch and users will be able stream movies and binge-watch the first few episodes of available series for free. 

What this means is you can easily access early episodes and some full seasons of many of Mzansi’s most-loved series, including telenovelas like International Emmy nominee The River; Gomora, recently named Most Popular Soapie at the 2020 Royalty Soapie Awards; record-breaking reality shows like the Showmax Originals Somizi & Mohale: The Union and Life With Kelly Khumalo; Lokshin Bioskop movies and SAFTA-winning classics like the drama Lockdown, the comedy series Hotel, the action-packed iNumber Number and much more. 

There is a catch though (as expected), users of Showmax’s subscription-free offering will be served adverts during playback and be prompted to upgrade to Showmax paid plans. In order to upgrade, Showmax have confirmed that customers will be able to do so easily. The full normal package offers access to complete seasons of the latest local and international series including blockbuster movies and kids’ content. In order to access more content such as live sports, then users will need to subscribe to Showmax Pro. 

“Ad-supported streaming services are a growing trend internationally. The great thing about this is you don’t need a credit card, or to make any payment; you can literally try before you subscribe. We’re proud to have an extensive collection of the continent’s most-loved original African content to share with our customers and introduce them to the world of streaming on Showmax,” says Yolisa Phahle, CEO for General Entertainment and Connected Video at MultiChoice Group.

Currently only available in SA, the service doesn’t require an account in order to stream the ad-supported service. Naturally the ad-supported Showmax features offer a limited content slate and don’t include all the functionality available via the paid subscription, like downloads and watchlists. To find out more then head here. Showmax Free is currently available on web, Android and iOS apps. Like all streaming requirements, you will need internet access in order to check it out.