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SkyShowtime

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SkyShowtime
Logo used since 2022
Type of site
OTT streaming platform
Area servedParts of Europe (see full list of countries)
OwnerNBCUniversal (Comcast)
Paramount Media Networks (Paramount Global)
(2022–present)
Key peopleMonty Sarhan (CEO)
URLOfficial website Edit this at Wikidata
RegistrationRequired
Launched20 September 2022; 2 years ago (2022-09-20)
Current statusActive

SkyShowtime is a European joint-venture between Comcast and Paramount Global which combines programming from the corporations Peacock and Paramount+ services as well as Sky Studios.[1] SkyShowtime launched in European markets where Sky does not operate their satellite and cable services, with viewers in countries like the United Kingdom and Ireland getting access to both Paramount+ and Peacock on their Sky Q and NOW boxes along with Sky Glass television sets instead.[2][3][4][5]

History

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On 18 August 2021, Comcast and Paramount Global announced the formation of a joint venture to launch a new subscription video on demand service that would launch in over 20 European markets encompassing 90 million homes, including key markets such as Spain, Poland, Portugal, Netherlands, and the Nordic countries.[6] SkyShowtime was structured with equal investment and joint control by Paramount Global and Comcast.[7]

On 11 January 2022, Monty Sarhan was named CEO of SkyShowtime.[8]

The service was launched in the Nordic countries on 20 September 2022, where it replaced the previously operated Paramount+. It arrived in the Netherlands and Portugal on 25 October 2022.[9] On 14 December 2022, SkyShowtime launched in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Serbia, Croatia, Montenegro, and Kosovo.[10] SkyShowtime launched on 14 February 2023 in the rest of Central and Eastern Europe (including Hungary and Poland, where it replaced the previously operated SVOD service of Paramount+, known as Paramount Play in Poland).[11] It finished its roll-out by launching in Spain and Andorra on 28 February 2023,[12] with its content later being incorporated as part of more expensive packages in the Spanish TV operator Movistar Plus+ at the beginning of 2024.[13][14]

On 10 January 2023, SkyShowtime announced the acquisition of 21 HBO Max original scripted series produced in Europe that were initially developed for the HBO streaming platform and television channels across the Nordics, Spain, and Central and Eastern Europe.[15] In total, the acquired series accounted for over 150 hours of local original programming. The programming became available after Warner Bros. Discovery, as part of its post-merger restructuring, decided to no longer produce originals in the Nordics, Central and Eastern Europe, and the Netherlands.[16] The majority of the shows were already in production or had been already finished.[17][18] New shows that had never premiered on HBO were part of the deal and were branded as SkyShowtime Originals, including “ID” (Finland and Sweden), “The Winner” (Czechia and Slovakia) and “Warszawianka” (Poland). SkyShowtime also premiered the second season of the HBO España original series “Por H o Por B,”, the first season of which also became available on the service.[19] In its first year, SkyShowtime premiered ten Original Series, including four acquired as part of the HBO deal.[20]

In addition to the streaming service, SkyShowtime also has two linear television channels in some of the regions where the service is available. These were initially available in the Nordic countries, inherited from Paramount+, before being expanded to Spain on 15 January 2024, albeit only one of the channels became available and is exclusive to the Spanish TV operator Movistar Plus+,[21] to Romania on 25 April 2024 exclusive to Digi,[22] and to Poland on 22 August 2024 exclusive to Play.[23] On 16 February 2024, it was announced that SkyShowtime would increase prices on 23 April in all of its territories except in Poland, while on the same day an ad tier would be launched, with its pricing being either reduced or retained in comparison with the original value of the service, depending on the region.[24]

On 8 October 2024, it was announced that a new tier would be implemented under the name SkyShowtime Premium on 29 October across all territories. This new tier would allow for more downloads to watch offline, more simultaneous streams and the ability to watch content in 4K.[25]

Programming

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Main articles: List of Paramount+ original programming, List of Paramount+ original films, and List of Peacock original programming

SkyShowtime features many series from the Law & Order franchise, library and new series from Showtime such as crime drama Dexter, family drama Ray Donovan, American Gigolo, and the Taylor Sheridan productions for Paramount Network and Paramount+ such as Yellowstone, and Tulsa King. It also includes other shows from Paramount+ such as Frasier[26] among others as well as originals such as Bosé.

Regarding movies, the service includes films from Paramount Pictures and Universal Pictures such as Top Gun: Maverick, Jurassic World Dominion, Minions: The Rise of Gru, The Northman, Sing 2, Trolls World Tour, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, The Lost City, Downton Abbey: A New Era, Nope, Belfast, Ambulance, and The Bad Guys.

Launch

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Launch date Country/Territory
20 September 2022 Denmark
Finland
Norway
Sweden
25 October 2022 Netherlands
Portugal
14 December 2022 Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bulgaria
Croatia
Montenegro
Serbia
Slovenia
14 February 2023 Albania
Czech Republic
Hungary
Kosovo
North Macedonia
Poland
Romania
Slovakia
28 February 2023 Andorra
Spain

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "SkyShowtime announces official launch date and content line-up". September 5, 2022.
  2. ^ "Comcast & ViacomCBS launch Sky Showtime". August 18, 2021.
  3. ^ "Comcast and ViacomCBS announce "SkyShowtime", a new streaming service to launch in select European markets".
  4. ^ "Comcast & ViacomCBS Extend Partnership with Sky Showtime".
  5. ^ "Comcast and ViacomCBS to launch SkyShowtime". August 18, 2021.
  6. ^ "Comcast and ViacomCBS announce "SkyShowtime", a new streaming service to launch in select European markets". August 18, 2021. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
  7. ^ "Comcast and ViacomCBS announce "SkyShowtime", a new streaming service to launch in select European markets". August 18, 2021. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
  8. ^ Szalai, Georg (January 11, 2022). "Comcast, ViacomCBS Name Monty Sarhan CEO of SkyShowtime Streaming Venture in Europe". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
  9. ^ "SkyShowtime makes European debut". Broadband TV News. September 20, 2022. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  10. ^ Nikolić, Dragan (November 4, 2022). "SkyShowtime announces official launch dates for Central & Eastern Europe". Diplomacy&Commerce. Retrieved December 17, 2022.
  11. ^ Szalai, Georg (January 31, 2023). "SkyShowtime Sets Feb. 14 Launches in 8 Markets". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
  12. ^ "SkyShowtime completes European roll-out". February 14, 2023. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  13. ^ "Movistar Plus+ to launch SkyShowtime, becoming the best entertainment offer in Spain". SkyShowtime Newsroom. December 15, 2023. Retrieved December 15, 2023.
  14. ^ "Movistar Plus+ lanzará SkyShowtime, convirtiéndose en la mejor oferta de entretenimiento en España" (in Spanish). Madrid. Movistar Plus+. December 15, 2023. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  15. ^ Szalai, Georg (January 10, 2023). "SkyShowtime Acquires 21 HBO Max European Originals (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
  16. ^ Ravindran, Manori (July 4, 2022). "SHBO Max Halts Originals in Parts of Europe in Major Restructure (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
  17. ^ Whittock, Jesse (June 22, 2022). "HBO Max Europe Originals Team Face Layoffs At Warner Bros Discovery, With Final Productions Set To Be Licensed — "It Feels Like The End Of An Era," Say Producers". Deadline.
  18. ^ Szalai, Georg (January 10, 2023). "SkyShowtime Acquires 21 HBO Max European Originals (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter.
  19. ^ Szalai, Georg (January 10, 2023). "SkyShowtime Acquires 21 HBO Max European Originals (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
  20. ^ Ntim, Zac (May 21, 2023). "SkyShowtime Sets Slate Of European Originals During Cannes Showcase". Deadline. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
  21. ^ "SkyShowtime llega este lunes a Movistar Plus+ y esta es su programación". MundoPlus.tv. January 12, 2024.
  22. ^ "SkyShowtime announces first partnership in Central and Eastern Europe with DIGI in Romania". SkyShowtime Newsroom. February 16, 2024. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  23. ^ "SkyShowtime announces first partnership in Poland with Play". SkyShowtime Newsroom. August 22, 2024. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  24. ^ "SkyShowtime announces introduction of new Standard with Ads plan". SkyShowtime Newsroom. February 16, 2024. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  25. ^ "SkyShowtime introduces a new Premium subscription plan". SkyShowtime Newsroom. October 8, 2024. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
  26. ^ 'Frasier' returns three decades later with a new season
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