A little over two years ago, streaming services were launching like there was no tomorrow. There were pundits saying that streaming was going to destroy theatrical film releases and disrupt TV networks in a big, big way. While some of that definitely is true, we’ve seen a bit of that streaming bubble burst and media companies have to decide how to best maximize their streaming portfolios. All that to say, things like Showtime Anytime just don’t really serve much of a purpose, and Paramount understands this.
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According to a report from the Wall Street Journal, Paramount is considering an option that would include shuttering its Showtime Anytime streaming service and integrating it with the much larger Paramount+. This would serve as a way to streamline content in a way that just makes sense when you stop and think about it.
No, this doesn’t mean that Showtime is shutting down and the days of premium cable networks is coming to an end. But the era of every network having a dedicated streaming option (especially one that is tied to a subscription fee) is quickly starting to look like a terrible idea. Plus, believe it or not, Showtime is having a bit of a moment and could be getting even bigger if there were better opportunities for people to discover the network’s best content. It should be a no-brainer to push “Yellowjackets” as a Paramount+ streaming exclusive, right?
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This is also something that Showtime’s main competitor, HBO, has already done. HBO already had its own streaming app that was dissolved when HBO Max was launched. Now, HBO content exists in a much bigger library and is easier to find than most (as long as Warner Bros. Discovery doesn’t delete it out of the library first, obviously).
And the seemingly forthcoming inclusion of Showtime content into Paramount+ likely won’t be the last time Paramount does this with its subsidiaries. In addition to Showtime, Paramount also runs dedicated streaming apps such as BET+ and Noggin (for kids shows). The idea that a media company would include these smaller, niche streamers when it all can live in Paramount+ is silly.
All that to say, on paper, it sounds like Paramount+ is starting to absorb Showtime and the premium network might be in trouble. Instead, it’s really just an inevitability and serves as a notice that smaller streaming options just aren’t going to survive this new landscape.