Showtime (TV network) facts for kids
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| Type | Pay television network |
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| Country | United States |
| Broadcast area | Nationwide |
| Headquarters | New York City, New York |
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| Timeshift service |
Showtime timeshift channels
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| Ownership | |
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| Parent | Showtime Networks |
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| Sister channels |
Paramount television properties
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| History | |
| Launched | May 9, 1976 |
Showtime is a popular American TV network. It's a "premium" channel, meaning you pay extra to watch it. Showtime is owned by Paramount Media Networks. It's known for showing movies, original TV shows, boxing, and mixed martial arts (MMA) fights. You can also find comedy specials and TV movies on Showtime.
Showtime's main office is in New York City. The network has eight channels that broadcast 24 hours a day. It also offers a service where you can watch shows on demand. Plus, there are streaming apps like Showtime Anytime and a separate Showtime streaming service. Showtime's brand is also used in other parts of the world, like the Middle East.
As of September 2018, about 28.5 million homes in the U.S. could watch Showtime. On January 30, 2023, Paramount announced that the Showtime streaming service would join with Paramount+. The new service is called Paramount+ with Showtime. This change happened on June 27, 2023. The old Showtime apps will close by the end of 2023.
Contents
Showtime's Journey: How It Grew
Starting Small: Showtime's Early Days (1976–1982)
Showtime first launched on July 1, 1976. It started on cable systems in California. The channel was originally owned by a company called Viacom. The very first show was a concert special called Celebration. By the end of its first year, Showtime had 55,000 subscribers.
On March 7, 1978, Showtime began broadcasting across the country using a satellite. This made it a competitor to other pay TV networks like HBO. In 1979, Viacom sold half of Showtime to the TelePrompTer Corporation. On July 4, 1981, Showtime started broadcasting 24 hours a day. In 1982, Showtime aired its first TV movie, Falcon's Gold. It also launched its first original children's show, Faerie Tale Theatre.
Growing Bigger: Showtime Networks Forms (1982–2005)
In 1982, Viacom bought back the other half of Showtime. Then, in 1983, Viacom teamed up with other big movie studios. They decided to combine Showtime with another channel called The Movie Channel (TMC). This created a new company called Showtime/The Movie Channel, Inc. Viacom owned most of this new company.
In 1984, Showtime launched a big advertising campaign called "We Make Excitement." It used a popular song to get people's attention. Around this time, Showtime also signed a special deal with Paramount Pictures to show their movies first. In 1985, Viacom became the full owner of Showtime and TMC. The company was later renamed Showtime Networks, Inc. in 1988.
In 1988, Showtime started Showtime Event Television. This was for special events you could pay to watch, like boxing. In the 1990s, Showtime began showing independent films. Some of these films even won awards! In 1994, Showtime joined other networks to create a content rating system. This helped parents know what was in the shows.
In 1997, Showtime got a new look and a new slogan: "No Limits." This slogan showed that as a premium channel, Showtime could offer exciting shows without censorship. In 2001, Showtime was one of the first channels to offer a high-definition (HD) broadcast.
New Owners: CBS and Paramount (2005–Present)
In 2005, Viacom split into two companies. Showtime Networks became part of the new CBS Corporation. This meant Showtime was now connected to the CBS TV network.
On August 13, 2019, CBS and Viacom decided to merge back together. The new company was named ViacomCBS. This brought Showtime back under the same roof as Paramount Pictures. On February 16, 2022, ViacomCBS changed its name to Paramount Global. Showtime Networks is now part of Paramount Media Networks.
Showtime's Channels and Services
Many Channels: Showtime's Multiplex
In 1991, Showtime started testing a second channel, Showtime 2. By 2001, Showtime had expanded to include several themed channels. These included:
- Showtime Family Zone: For family-friendly shows.
- Showtime Next: For young adults (18-34 years old).
- Showtime Women: For shows appealing to a female audience.
The main Showtime channel and its extra channels are available in both standard definition (SD) and high definition (HD). They also broadcast on both East and West Coast schedules. This means you can watch a show at 8 PM on the East Coast or 8 PM on the West Coast.
List of Showtime Channels
Showtime offers several channels, each with its own focus:
| Channel | What You Can Watch |
|---|---|
Showtime |
This is the main channel. It shows big movies, new films, comedy specials, documentaries, and exciting boxing and MMA fights. It also has original TV series, with new episodes often on Sunday and Monday nights. |
 Showtime 2 (also called SHO2) |
This channel has a different schedule of movies, original series, and specials. It started in 1991. |
 Showtime Showcase |
Like Showtime 2, this channel shows movies and original films made for Showtime. It launched in 1996 and was first called "Showtime 3." |
 SHO×BET |
This channel started in 1999 as Showtime Beyond, showing sci-fi and horror. In 2020, it became SHO×BET. Now, it focuses on shows for African American audiences, including original series from Showtime and BET. |
 Showtime Extreme |
Launched in 1998, this channel is all about action! It shows action, adventure, thriller, and gangster movies. You can also watch sports events like MMA and boxing. |
 Showtime Family Zone (also called SHO Family Zone) |
This channel, launched in 2001, is for families. It has movies and specials for younger viewers. All content is rated G, PG, or PG-13, so it's safe for kids. |
 Showtime Next (also called SHO Next) |
Launched in 2001, this channel is for young adults aged 18 to 34. It features over 50 films each month, including original movies, short films, documentaries, and concerts. |
 Showtime Women |
This channel, launched in 2001, shows movies, original series, and specials that appeal to women. |
Other Ways to Watch Showtime
Showtime HD
Showtime HD is a high-definition version of the channel. It broadcasts in a very clear 1080i picture format. All of Showtime's extra channels are also available in HD. You can watch Showtime HD through most TV providers and streaming services.
Showtime on Demand
Showtime on Demand is a service that lets you watch shows and movies whenever you want. It's included for free if you subscribe to Showtime. You can find movies, original series, and sports events. New titles are added every Friday. This service officially started in July 2002.
Showtime Anytime
Showtime Anytime launched on October 27, 2010. It's a website and app where Showtime subscribers can stream content. You can watch about 400 hours of shows, movies, comedy specials, and sports. It's available through many TV providers. The app was first released for Apple devices in 2011 and for Android devices in 2012.
Streaming Service
On July 7, 2015, Showtime launched its own streaming service. You could buy this service without needing a regular TV subscription. It's very similar to Showtime Anytime. It has a library of past and current Showtime original series, movies, documentaries, and sports. New episodes of original series become available on the streaming service the same day they air on TV.
Joining Paramount+
The Showtime streaming service now works with Paramount+, another streaming service from Paramount Global. In August 2022, you could upgrade your Paramount+ subscription to include Showtime content. On January 30, 2023, Paramount Global confirmed that the two services would fully merge. The combined service is called "Paramount+ with Showtime." This merger happened on June 27, 2023. The separate Showtime app will close by the end of 2023.
What's On Showtime?
Showtime's schedule mostly features movies that were first shown in theaters. It also has many original TV series for adults. Some popular shows include Shameless, Homeland, Yellowjackets, and Billions. You can also watch documentaries, boxing matches, and comedy specials.
Since the early 1980s, Showtime has had a late-night block called "Showtime After Hours." This block shows movies and series for adult audiences. Before 2001, Showtime also showed many programs for children and teenagers during the day.
Showtime's Original Shows
Showtime is well-known for its original TV shows. Some of its most popular include the crime drama Dexter, the comedy Weeds, and the dramas Ray Donovan and Homeland. In 2017, the channel aired the third season of the popular series Twin Peaks.
Showtime used to make its own original TV movies. From 1995 to 2005, they even made special family-friendly movies under the names "Showtime Original Pictures for Kids" and "Showtime Original Pictures for All Ages."
Showtime After Hours
"Showtime After Hours" is a special late-night block on Showtime. The start and end times can change. This block features shows and movies that are for mature audiences. It has been talked about a lot in pop culture.
Movie Collection
Showtime has special deals to show movies from certain film studios first. These include films from Amblin Partners (which includes DreamWorks Pictures), IFC Films, A24, and Bleecker Street.
Even though Showtime is now part of Paramount Global, new movies from Paramount Pictures usually go to other streaming services like MGM+ or Paramount+ first.
Showtime also shows movies that have already been on TV or in theaters before. These can be from studios like Sony Pictures, Warner Bros. Pictures, Universal Pictures, and Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.
Past Movie Deals
Over the years, Showtime has had many deals with different movie studios. In 1983, Paramount Pictures signed a deal to show their movies on Showtime first. In 1994, after Viacom bought Paramount, Showtime signed another deal with Paramount.
Showtime also had deals with studios like Buena Vista Motion Pictures Group (Disney), New Line Cinema, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, and United Artists. These deals helped Showtime bring many popular movies to its viewers.
A24 Movies
Since November 13, 2019, Showtime has been the main place to watch movies from A24 on premium cable. A24 is known for making unique and often award-winning films.
Sports on Showtime
Showtime also broadcasts sports, managed by its Showtime Sports division. Showtime PPV (Pay-Per-View) lets you pay to watch special boxing matches and other events.
Since 1986, Showtime has been known for Showtime Championship Boxing. In 2001, they started ShoBox: The New Generation, which focuses on new boxers. In 2004, Showtime began showing all its boxing matches in high definition.
In 2006, Showtime started showing mixed martial arts (MMA) fights from a group called EliteXC. In 2008, Showtime took over Inside the NFL, a long-running football analysis show, from HBO. In 2021, Inside the NFL moved to Paramount+.
In 2009, Showtime signed a deal with the MMA promotion Strikeforce. They showed many Strikeforce events until 2013. In 2010, Showtime launched Inside NASCAR, a show about car racing. In 2012, they debuted 60 Minutes Sports, a sports version of the famous news show.
Since February 9, 2021, Showtime has been the exclusive home for Bellator MMA fights.
Showtime Around the World
Outside the United States, other TV networks have used the Showtime name. These include Showtime Australia, Showtime Arabia, and Showtime Scandinavia.
In January 2015, CBS made a deal with Bell Media in Canada. This meant Showtime shows would be shown on Bell's services like The Movie Network and CraveTV. Later that year, a Chinese streaming service called PPTV also got a license to stream some Showtime series.
Showtime shows are also available in other countries through local versions of Paramount+, like in Australia, Latin America, the UK, and Ireland.
SkyShowtime
SkyShowtime is a special partnership between Paramount Global (who owns Showtime) and Comcast. It combines shows from their streaming services, Paramount+ and Peacock. SkyShowtime launched in European countries where Sky does not offer its satellite and cable services.
The service started in Nordic countries (like Denmark and Sweden) on September 20, 2022. It then launched in the Netherlands and Portugal on October 25, 2022. On December 14, 2022, SkyShowtime became available in several countries in the Balkans. It launched in more Central and Eastern European countries on February 14, 2023, and in Spain and Andorra on February 28, 2023.
SkyShowtime also gained the rights to many original shows that were first made for HBO Max in Europe. These shows are now called SkyShowtime Originals.
| When It Launched | Country/Area |
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| September 20, 2022 | Denmark |
| Finland | |
| Norway | |
| Sweden | |
| October 25, 2022 | Netherlands |
| Portugal | |
| December 14, 2022 | Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| Bulgaria | |
| Croatia | |
| Montenegro | |
| Serbia | |
| Slovenia | |
| February 14, 2023 | Albania |
| Czech Republic | |
| Hungary | |
| Kosovo | |
| North Macedonia | |
| Poland | |
| Romania | |
| Slovakia | |
| February 28, 2023 | Andorra |
| Spain |
See also
In Spanish: Showtime (canal de televisión) para niños
