Showtime stand-alone OTT service
June 4, 2015
US premium television programmer Showtime Networks is launching a stand-alone Internet streaming service in early July, with Apple as its first partner. The stand-alone service will be called Showtime, a brand already embraced by consumers as the home for cutting-edge original programming, sports and movies.
The launch of Showtime will coincide with the new seasons of the critically-acclaimed, hit series Ray Donovan and Masters of Sex, premiering on Sunday, July 12th.
iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Apple TV users will be able to subscribe to Showtime as a stand-alone service on the Showtime app anywhere in the US, for one monthly price ($10.99) to view on all Apple devices. Additional platforms and providers will be announced soon.
“Going over-the-top means Showtime will be much more accessible to tens of millions of potential new subscribers,” said Leslie Moonves, CBS Corporation’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “Across CBS, we are constantly finding new ways to monetise our programming by capitalising on opportunities presented by technology. This works best when you have outstanding premium content – like we do at Showtime – and when you have a terrific partner like Apple – which continues to innovate and build upon its loyal customer base.”
“At Showtime, we’re excited to offer consumers the opportunity to subscribe in new ways, by simply having an internet connection,” said Matthew C. Blank, Chairman and CEO, Showtime Networks. “Our intent is to make Showtime available to viewers via every manner possible, giving them an enormous amount of choice in accessing our programming, starting with the season premieres of our award-winning series Ray Donovan and Masters of Sex.”
“We’re excited to offer Apple customers Showtime’s live channels and extensive on demand library of great TV shows and movies, without a cable or satellite subscription,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Internet Software and Services. “iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Apple TV customers will now be able to subscribe to Showtime directly and instantly start viewing their favourite programming with the same simplicity as buying an app.”
Subscribers will have unlimited on demand access to every season of Showtime original series, and hundreds of hours of movies, documentary and sports programming, as well as the live broadcast of the east and west coast feeds of Showtime.
Showtime will offer a 30-day free trial to new customers who sign up through Apple in July.