Monday, August 22, 2016

Naspers' video-on-demand (VOD) streaming service ShowMax turns one and changes logo to include colour; serves up 10 million 'views' the past year.


ShowMax, Naspers' video-on-demand (VOD) streaming service has turned one and has changed its logo that now also includes colour.

ShowMax says the logo change from the framed black and white logo used the past year, is to give the service more flexibility in terms of colours and usage.

The new logo - adopting a new small caps font and adding dark magenta and teal stripes - will be rolled out the next few weeks and replace the old ShowMax logo where its being used, for instance on apps on smart devices and MultiChoice's DStv Explora interface.

While ShowMax remains silent about its number of actual subscribers since it launched in August 2015, it says that it has achieved 10 million "views" over the past year.

ShowMax currently offers 600 movie titles and 365 TV series, still at the launch price of R99.

According to Morgan Stanley, ShowMax is expected to break even in 2021 when it reaches 800 000 subscribers.

ShowMax competes with Netflix in South Africa and across the rest of Africa since the global streaming service activated its service on the African continent in January 2016 - along with MTN's relaunched VU, the just-launched PrideTV, and PCCW Global's OnTapTV.com.

China's OnTAPTV.com that has been very quiet the past year in South Africa and doesn't communicate new content additions to its streaming service, will turn one year old on 16 September and is still available at the launch price of R89 per month.