So you want to watch
Here are five surprisingly inexpensive ways to watch ShowMax on your TV:
1. Connect your laptop to your TV with an HDMI cable.
Cost: Prices from R100.
Pros: Cheap, you just need an HDMI cable.
Cons: You’ll need to position your laptop close to your TV and may need to get out of your seat to pause Game of Thrones while you get more popcorn. That’s unless you have a remote app on your smartphone or a super long HDMI cable, in which case you’re sorted.
READ: 7 best series to watch on a date night
2. Got an iPhone or iPad? Find a secondhand model of the Apple TV and AirPlay direct from your iThing to your TV.
All the Apple fanboys out there are busy upgrading their outdated Apple TVs to the new 4th generation model (ShowMax has a new app specifically for this model). That means older models are sitting in cupboards and gathering dust. Time to raid OLX, Cash Converters, or your nephew’s box of discarded technology. You can AirPlay ShowMax from your smart device via the Apple TV for the big screen experience.
Cost: R?... How good are your negotiation skills? If you pay more than R500, you’re doing it wrong.
Pros: With the Apple TV, even the older models, you’ve got other apps to choose from like YouTube, so you can also stream the latest hilarious cat vs cucumber videos to your TV and blast your Abba’s Greatest Hits album to the neighbourhood.
Cons: Your TV still needs an HDMI-in port for the Apple TV to be plugged into and you’ll need a Wi-Fi network set up at home. For AirPlay to work, both your smart device and the Apple TV need to be connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
3. Got an Android smartphone or tablet? Get a Chromecast.
Google Chromecast is a media-streaming device that plugs into the HDMI port. You can then open up the ShowMax app on your phone and “cast” the shows you want to watch from the app straight to the TV.
Cost: About R1 000
Pros: Simple to use and works with pretty much any Android smart device.
Cons: Google Chromecast devices are as rare as hen’s teeth in South Africa. Best to ask a friend to buy you one as a gift the next time they’re overseas.
4. Plug your smartphone or tablet straight into the TV.
It’s a little-known fact that many phones and tablets can connect direct to the HDMI port on a TV via Mobile High-Definition link (MHL). You’ll need to do some Googling about your device to see if it supports MHL and then get yourself an MHL cable.
If it does, you’re in luck. You can just plug in your phone and your screen will be mirrored on the TV. Some older Android phones have a micro-HDMI output which makes life even easier as they usually come with the cable in the box.
Cost: About R1 000
Pros: Simple to start using – just plug and play – plus no Wi-Fi network is needed.
Cons: Finding the right cable can be a bit of a pain.
5. Got an Explora decoder? If you want ShowMax, you’re in luck – it’s now available.
To get ShowMax on the Explora, just press the blue DStv button on the Explora remote, scroll to Watch Now, and select ShowMax. Take note though, you’ll need to connect your Explora to the internet to be able to access the full ShowMax catalogue. For that you’ll need to buy an ethernet cable to connect your Explora or a DStv Wi-Fi Connector.
Cost: Free – If you already have an Explora connected to the web and a ShowMax subscription. Get a DStv Explora for R1499 or as part of your DStv subscription. A DStv Wi-Fi connector is priced from R349 and ethernet cable from R25.
Pros: Quick and easy. Just sign up for ShowMax and start watching.
Cons: You will need to connect your Explora to the internet to access ShowMax.
Find out more about ShowMax internet TV at ShowMax.com– from Game of Thrones to Binnelanders, there’s something for everyone to stream.