Do you have the Showmax not working on DSTV issue? In some cases, this issue is caused by a little bit of misunderstanding. Many people falsely assume Showmax is a channel on DSTV. They spend hours trying to find it without success. In this article, we will assume that you have been having Showmax on your DSTV Explora decoder and now it has stopped working. We highlight possible causes and solutions. But first, a bit about Showmax;
What is Showmax?
As part of the process of determining why Showmax may not be working on your DSTV, we first need to understand what Showmax is. Showmax is a Video on Demand online streaming service. We need to repeat that it is not a DSTV channel.
Yes, both Showmax and DSTV are owned by Multichoice, but that doesn’t mean one is part of the other. Showmax falls into the same category as Netflix and Amazon Prime. They are video streaming services. But how does this streaming happen?
Where DSTV works via satellites that are in earth’s orbit, Showmax works over the internet. You need to have an internet connection to enjoy Showmax shows. Showmax does not stream via DSTV or via satellite. Again, it’s the same with Netflix. And internet connection is required.
Here is how to get Showmax on DSTV.
What do you need to get Showmax?
Here is an article answering the question how does Showmax work without DSTV. In order to get Showmax, you need to have the following;
- A Showmax account and a paid up subscription.
- An internet connection.
- A device that’s connected to the internet on which you can watch your Showmax shows.
Which devices can I use for Showmax?
Showmax can be enjoyed on a wide range of devices;
- On a computer
- On a smartphone
- On smart televisions
- On an ordinary TV using a DSTV decoder that’s connected to the internet
Why is Showmax not working on DSTV?
Now that we have an understanding of how DSTV works, it’s time to take a look at some of the reasons why Showmax may not be working on your DSTV. This sections assumes that you are using an Explora to access Showmax. The following are some of the reasons why Showmax may have stopped working on your DSTV;
Your DSTV subscription is not paid up
If you have been watching Showmax on your DSTV Explora, Showmax will stop working the moment that your DSTV subscription lapses. So, you need to keep your DSTV subscription paid up.
The good news is that though Showmax may have stopped working on DSTV, you can still watch your shows on your phone or computer. That’s assuming your Showmax subscription has also not expired.
Your Showmax subscription is not paid up
If you have a DSTV Primium subscription, you get Showmax for free. However, if you have subscribed to other DSTV bouquets, you will have to pay various fees to get Showmax.
Another reason why you could end up having the Showmax now working on DSTV issue could be if you haven’t paid up your Showmax subscription.
As an example, DSTV Compact and Compact Plus customers get 50% off Showmax. If you have not paid the required amount, Showmax will stop working on DSTV.
The same applies for DSTV family subscribers. These are required to pay the full amount for access to Showmax.
Your internet connection is slow
This is another common reason why Showmax sometimes ends up not working on DSTV. Perhaps your internet connection is not up to the task in terms of speed.
According to DSTV, you need to have speeds of over 10 Mbps to stream Showmax on your Explora. That’s the only way to enjoy the best streaming quality on the Explora.
So, if your internet connection is below par, you will have issues. In fact, your internet needs to be uncapped. We have previously looked at Rain and whether or not it uncapped. That’s a good option to explore if you have good connectivity in your area.
One thing to point out here is that Showmax shows are not saved to your DSTV Explora. In other words, Showmax shows are stored online. You always need to have internet to access them.
Summary
In this post we took at look at the Showmax not working on DSTV issue. We noted that Showmax is not a channel on DSTV. So, if you are looking for one on there, you will not find it.
We also noted that DSTV premium customers get Showmax for free and that Showmax works with an internet connection. If you have no internet, you will not have Showmax. Your speeds need to be up to par for everything to work.
If you are having issues, post them on our Forum or leave a comment below.