How does Showmax work with DStv Premium?

Here are the whys and hows of getting Showmax as a DStv Premium customer.

What is Showmax?

Showmax is a streaming video-on-demand service that gives subscribers unlimited access to the best local and international series episodes, movies, documentaries and kids’ shows. On Showmax, you’ll find series that are not available anywhere else in Africa, such as HBO’s Succession, MMA drama Kingdom, sexy rom-com Younger, Tom Hardy’s Taboo and all three seasons of racy British period drama Harlots. New shows and movies are added every single week.

And the best thing about all of the amazing content on Showmax is that you can watch it all whenever and wherever you like, on pretty much any device that’s connected to the internet, with no ads and no interruptions.

What’s the deal with Showmax and being a DStv Premium subscriber?

So, you know just now, when we said the best thing about the Showmax content is that you can watch it anywhere, anytime? Well, we were wrong. The absolute best BEST thing about Showmax for you, as a DStv Premium subscriber, is that you get it at no extra cost.

Yes. For access to Showmax, DStv Premium subscribers will pay nothing. It’s included in your DStv subscription fee. So it comes to you at no added cost whatsoever.

How do I get Showmax as a DStv Premium subscriber?

Simple – all you have to do is sign up for Showmax if you’re not already a subscriber. You must have a Showmax account before you can access it through DStv as well as a DStv Connect ID.

Why do I need a Showmax account if I have DStv Connect ID?

For one thing, we need to be sure you’ve accepted the Ts & Cs of using Showmax, so that you can legally watch all the amazing shows. Also, having a Showmax account means you can access your fave series and movies on all your mobile devices as well as via the DStv Explora.

Once you’ve got a Showmax account set up, you simply add your Showmax subscription to your DStv bill.

The process is slightly different depending on whether you’ve signed up to Showmax yet or not, so we’ve broken it down in three sections below.

1. I’m already a Showmax subscriber

If you have a credit, cheque card or PayPal subscription, simply login to your Showmax account and change your payment method to “DStv add to account”. These are the steps:

1. Go to www.showmax.com and sign in.
2. Go to Manage Account and click on Manage Subscription.
3. Click Cancel Subscription then Reactivate Subscription.
4. Select “DStv add to account” as your payment method.
5. Start watching your favourite shows right now at www.showmax.com, through your connected Explora or using the Showmax app on phones and tablets!

2. I’m not yet a Showmax subscriber

1. Go to www.showmax.com.
2. Sign up to Showmax with your email address.
3. Create a password.
4. Enter your South African ID number.
5. Confirm your mobile phone number. A one-time pin (OTP) will be SMSed to this number to verify your account.
6. Enter the OTP and accept the T&Cs.
7. Choose “DStv add to account” as your payment method.
8. Start watching your favourite shows right now at www.showmax.com, through your connected Explora or using the Showmax app on phones and tablets!

3. Help, I’ve already added my Showmax account to another bill!

1. If your Showmax subscription is currently being billed through one of our partners (e.g. bank, cellphone network), you may not see all the normal payment options available to you on the Showmax website’s payment screen.
2. To cancel this type of subscription, contact the company that is billing you for Showmax (we unfortunately do not have access to their billing systems).
3. Once this is done, you will be able to see the full list of payment options available on the payment screen on the Showmax website. (This is where other partners that allow you to add Showmax to your billing with them will appear.)
4. Choose “DStv add to account” to add Showmax to your DStv bill.
5. Get watching!

How do I get Showmax on my Explora?

Right, so you’ve signed up and are now ready to watch Showmax at no added cost on your DStv Explora. Here’s how.

1. First, make sure your Explora is connected to the internet. To find out how, visit dstv.com/getconnected and select “DStv Connected Explora” from the slider in the middle of the page. (We recommend an uncapped connection of at least 10Mbps for the best viewing experience, and 2Mbps is the absolute minimum speed.)
2. To access Showmax on your Explora, push the blue DStv button on your Explora remote control.
3. Scroll to “Watch now” and select “Showmax”.
4. Navigate to the content you’d like to watch and push OK when you’ve found the show you’ve been looking for.
5. You will be prompted to sign into your Showmax account. If you don’t have an account, sign up at Showmax.com
6. Once you’ve signed in, there will be a 30-second countdown before the show is ready to watch.

Did you know you can log in and out of Showmax and see your Showmax history using the Explora remote? Check it out:

• Log in and log out of Showmax on the Explora by pressing the profile button on the remote.
• Press the alt button while on the Showmax screen and access the history of content which has been watched on Showmax.

Please note an active DStv Subscription is required to watch Showmax on the Explora.

What if I’m a DStv subscriber but don’t have an Explora?

The beauty of using Showmax on your Explora is that you stream shows directly onto your big TV screen without having to upgrade to a smart TV, so it’s definitely worth the investment.

But if you don’t have one, don’t worry: DStv Premium subscribers don’t need Exploras to enjoy the binge-fest that is Showmax. Simply follow the steps above (sign up and add Showmax to your DStv account) and then start watching on an internet-connected device. Watch on a smartphone or tablet by downloading the Showmax app – choose to stream or to download shows to watch offline later. The great thing about using Showmax on a mobile device is that you can watch your series while you’re on the go – on a road trip, in a queue, in a doctor’s waiting room, or on a plane. Another alternative is to access Showmax on the web browser of your computer or laptop.

Don’t have Showmax yet?

 Get Showmax now »