Paramount+ and Showtime Are Merging Much Sooner Than Anyone Thought

Tony Maglio
·2 min read

Paramount+ and Showtime are coming together precisely one quarter earlier than expected. Paramount+ with Showtime will launch on June 27, Paramount Global said on Monday. Previously, the timing for the combination and rebrand was end of September — or the end of Q3, not Q2.

How much is one quarter worth? Well, in the first quarter of 2023 alone, this merger of services cost Paramount Global nearly $1.7 billion. In other words, it could be quite meaningful.

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The Showtime OTT (over-the-top) app will be shuttered by the end of the year, Paramount said this afternoon. The linear channel will wait for that timing to rebrand with the same — though more confusing for the format — name: Paramount+ with Showtime.

As previously reported, Paramount+ with Showtime will cost $11.99 per month, up $2 from the tier’s prior pricing. The Paramount+ “Essential” plan (without Showtime) will go up $1 per month from $4.99 to $5.99.

“This summer, Paramount+ will officially become the streaming home for Showtime, further advancing our lead in being the total household service,” Tom Ryan, president & CEO of Paramount Streaming, said on Monday. “By integrating the Showtime premium and critically acclaimed portfolio with the service’s already broad and popular slate, all at a competitive price, we will solidify Paramount+ as a cornerstone in streaming.”

“From ‘Yellowjackets’ to ‘Your Honor,’ Showtime is home to big, premium, sophisticated series which will now be complemented with broad, blockbuster originals and movies in the alignment of Paramount+ with Showtime,” said Chris McCarthy, president & CEO, Showtime/MTV Entertainment Studios & Paramount Media Networks. “Together, Paramount+ with Showtime will provide our consumers a much more rewarding experience with our vast set of unique originals and deep library of iconic shows and hit films.”

Many of those “big, premium, sophisticated series” are going to be mined for any potential remnants of gold until the pans are completely empty. Paramount+ with Showtime is planning multiple “Billions” spinoffs, “Dexter” spinoffs, more from the “Yellowstone” universe, and so on; according to Deadline, more “Weeds” and “Nurse Jackie” is also on the docket.

The news of the launch date actually leaked late week via an email from Apple TV to its users that subscribe to Showtime. Per CordCutterNews.com, those consumers received an email that read: “SHOWTIME is being fully integrated into Paramount+ on or around June 27 — meaning your subscription will include even more hit movies and shows under one service, Paramount+ with SHOWTIME. No action is required to enjoy the expanded benefits of this Apple TV channel.”

We’re sure Paramount enjoyed that action.

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