Showmax, the streaming giant with 22 million subscribers in Africa, recently unveiled its new platform amidst a wave of not-so-great reviews from users across the continent. The promised high-quality content and partnerships with Comcast’s NBCUniversal and Sky took a hit when users discovered the absence of the widely-used Mobile Money payment option, particularly M-Pesa in Kenya.
In a country where M-Pesa dominates 96% of the mobile money market and plays a significant role in the GDP, the lack of M-Pesa integration led to frustrations among users, risking a decline in subscriptions. Despite complaints and some subscribers defecting to rival platforms, Showmax’s Chief Operating Officer, Joe Heshu, assured users of ongoing efforts to integrate M-Pesa via USSD, emphasizing a strong relationship with Safaricom.
The hurried launch, however, has drawn criticism for a subpar User Experience (UX). Subscribers reported issues such as the loss of viewing history, a smaller content library, and overall dissatisfaction with the new interface. The company acknowledged these concerns and hinted at future updates to address the feedback.
Showmax’s troubles coincide with potential changes in ownership, as the parent company may be fully acquired by Vivendi, making it a key player in Africa’s media landscape. As users await improvements, Showmax offers an interim solution for Kenyan subscribers to pay via USSD while anticipating a seamless integration with M-Pesa in the near future.”
How to Make Showmax Payments in Kenya Using USSD
While we eagerly await the seamless integration of M-Pesa with ShowMax, there’s still a convenient way to pay using the M-Pesa USSD code. Follow these simple steps:
- Dial *375# on your mobile phone.
- Choose the Showmax plan that suits your preferences.
- Confirm your purchase.
- Enter your M-Pesa PIN to authorize the payment.
- Upon successful payment, you’ll receive an SMS containing your Showmax subscription voucher code.
- Sign in or create your Showmax account using the provided voucher code.
Stay tuned for updates on Showmax’s anticipated integration with M-Pesa for a more streamlined payment experience!
