Showtime

Showtime is a subscription television brand used by a number of channels and platforms around the world, but primarily refers to a group of channels in the United States.

United States

The U.S. Showtime primarily shows motion pictures as well as some original programming and occasional boxing matches. Showtime, originally a service of Viacom, went on the air on July 1, 1976, on a local cable system in Dublin, California. On March 7,1978, it expanded to the national market via satellite, competing with HBO. In 1979, Viacom sold 50% of Showtime to TelePrompTer.

In 1982, Westinghouse, who had acquired TelePrompTer the previous year, sold its share of Showtime back to Viacom. In 1983, Viacom and Warner-Amex Satellite Entertainment merged Showtime and The Movie Channel to form Showtime Networks, Inc.. In 1985, Viacom acquired Warner-Amex's cable properties, including their share of Showtime Networks.

In the 1990s, Showtime ventured into acquiring and premiering independent films directly for the channel, including such well-received fare as Lolita.

In the early 2000s, Showtime launched several additional multiplex channels including including Showtime Too (a pun on its previous name, Showtime 2), Showtime Showcase (also known simply as "Showcase"; formerly Showtime 3), Showtime Beyond, Showtime Extreme, Showtime Family Zone (Available on Digital cable only), Showtime Next (Available on Digital cable only), Showtime Women (Available on Digital cable only)

Showtime Networks also owns the channels The Movie Channel, The Movie Channel Xtra and Flix. In addition, it manages Sundance Channel, which is a joint venture of CBS Corporation, Robert Redford and NBC Universal. Each multiplex channel offers movies and programs fitting each channel's particular theme. Premiers of popular movies are usually made on the primary channel.

In 2000, Showtime launched the "Showtime Interactive 24.7" channel—providing DVD-like interaction opportunities to its entertainment offerings.

In the 2000s, Showtime began test marketing a subscription-video-on-demand SVOD system. Now there is a Showtime subscription-video-on-demand channel called Showtime On Demand, which users are able to see episodes of Showtime original series, movies, and specials like boxing. This channel is only available on digital cable in the US.

Showtime also became one of the first cable TV networks to broadcast an HDTV version of its channel, along with Dolby Digital sound.

Showtime's official website is unusual in that it can only be accessed from computers located within the United States. (This may be due to licensing restrictions involving programming). It is one of if not the only broadcaster with such a website restriction.

In 2005, Showtime became a subsidiary of the newly renamed CBS Corporation, after the CBS/Viacom split of that year.

Channels

Showtime operates eight multiplex channels and a high definition channel.

Image:Showtime.svg|Showtime: Hit movies & first-run films, Original pictures and original hit series as well as championship boxingImage:Showtime Too.jpg|Showtime Too: Secondary channel, features more movies, hit series and original pictures as well as championship boxing. It was previously known as Showtime 2.Image:Showtime Beyond.jpg|Showtime Beyond: A mix of Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Horror films as well as series. Image:Showtime Extreme.jpg|Showtime Extreme: Action & adventure, thrillers, gangster and martial arts films. It has over 60 'extreme' films each month and a double feature on Sundays that spotlights a different action star each week.Image:Showtime Family Zone.jpg|Showtime Family Zone: Family oriented programming, including award-winning films and original series. All pictures are either 'G' rated or 'PG' rated, no 'R' rated movies air on Showtime Family Zone. Special programming includes an all-ages original picture on Saturday, can't-miss flick on Sundays and double features on weeknights. Showtime Family Zone is currently only available on digital cable.Image:Showtime Next.jpg|Showtime Next: Interactive service that is geared towards adults 18-24. Showtime Next features first-run films (over 50 each month), original pictures, short films and animation. Showtime Next is currently only available on digital cable.Image:Showtime Showcase.jpg|Showtime Showcase: Similar to Showtime Too, providing viewers with even more movie watching opportunities. It airs first-run films and original pictures. It was previously known as Showtime 3.Image:Showtime Women.jpg|Showtime Women: Targeted to women, it airs blockbuster films, original series and behind the scenes features. Movies are from various genres including action-adventure, drama, comedy and thrillers. Showtime Next is currently only available on digital cable.

Original programming

* American Candidate
* Barbershop: The Series
* Brotherhood
* Brothers
* The Chris Isaak Show
* Dead Like Me
* Family Business
* Fat Actress
* Free For All - Animated
* Freshman Diaries
* Going To California
* Huff
* Interscope Presents: The Next Episode
* It's Garry Shandling's Show
* Jamie Foxx Presents: Laffapalooza
* Jarhead
* Jeremiah (series)
* The Leap Years
* The L Word
* Masters of Horror
* Odyssey 5
* The Outer Limits
* Out of Order
* Penn & Teller: Bullshit!
* Poltergeist- The Legacy
* Queer as Folk
* Queer Duck
* Red Shoe Diaries
* Resurrection Blvd.
* Rude Awakening
* Sexual Healing
* Sherman Oaks
* ShoBox: The New Generation
* Sleeper Cell
* Soul Food
* Stargate SG-1 (Seasons 1 - 5)
* Street Time
* Underground (Damon Wayans' Underground)
* Washingtoon (animated series)
* Weeds''

Movies

The quality and selection available on Showtime and The Movie Channel has fallen off considerably in recent years. This is attributable to a few factors. After its launch, Starz signed exclusive first-run agreements with several movie studios. After being acquired by Viacom in 1994, Paramount Pictures began an output deal with Showtime (then also owned by Viacom), effective after 1997. In addition to Paramount, Showtime has agreements with MGM Studios, Lions Gate Films, IFC Films, ThinkFilms among others.

Showtime also plays a lot of classic movies from United Artists, Columbia Pictures, and some early/mid 90's movies from Miramax Films and Warner Bros..

During Summer 2007, Showtime puts the movies with The Weinstein Company.

Usually films which Showtime has pay-cable rights will also run on The Movie Channel during its time of license.

Other countries

Australia

Showtime Australia is a group of movie channels in Australia that began in 1995. The channels are basically the same as the U.S. Their owner, Premium Movie Partnership is owned equally by Sony, NBC Universal, CBS Corporation, News Corporation and Liberty Media. This means CBS has only a small stake in the service.

This group includes:
* Showtime - recent mainstream movies
* Showtime 2 - the Showtime channel on 2 hour delay
* Showtime Greats (formally Encore) - older mainstream and classic movies

This group is available on all three major pay-TV platforms in Australia.

Middle East

Showtime Arabia

Showtime or Showtime Arabia (Gulf DTH F.Z. L.L.C., the operating company behind pay TV broadcaster Showtime) as it's called to distinguish itself from its U.S. counterpart, is the dominant subscription television service in the Middle East, North Africa, and the Levant territories. It is a joint venture between KIPCO (79% stake) and CBS Corporation (21% stake), CBS Corp being a minor partner. The company is incorporated in the Cayman Islands and has its headquarters at Dubai Media City in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Showtime Arabia offers Hollywood movies, sitcoms, children's programming, fashion shows and sports coverage. Showtime currently offers various Irdeto Access encrypted programming packages offering more than 50 premium Western entertainment channels. It also offers premium channels that includes movie channels, sports channels, news channels, documentary channels, music channels, kids channels and general family entertainment channels. It also includes pay-per-view Home Cinema Channels and Music Choice audio channels. The Disney Channel (Middle East), which is an a-la-carte channel, is also offered in this package.

Showtime Arabia Official Channel Line up page

The Showtime Arabia network package is available via DTH satellite NileSat 101/102 located at 7.0°W.

Latin America

In the 1990s, Showtime had an early investment with Televisa, News Corporation and MGM in Cinecanal. Cinecanal was originally called "Cinecanal/Showtime".

Brazil

Showtime had also an early investment in Brazil with Globo to launch TeleCine.

Scandinavia

A Showtime channel is available in Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland. The channel is operated by NonStop Television, which licences the name and logo from Showtime Networks Inc. and brands the channel with the Showtime logo, but does not otherwise show any Showtime programming. Programming is mostly action movies from the 1970s to today. The channel does not premiere recent Hollywood films. Availability differs, it is available for no additional cost in some basic cable TV packages, such as the Norwegian Canal Digital, but only for an additional subscription payment for users of the Swedish Boxer TV Access DTT network, although for a much lower price than first-run subscription film channels. The channel is commercial-free. NonStop also operates Star! Scandinavia.

Spain

In Spain the channel is branded as Showtime Extreme it provides three different audio layers, Spanish, English and Catalan. It is operated by Factoría de Canales which also licences the name and logo from Showtime Networks, Inc.

Turkey

In Turkey, Showtime channel is on Digiturk, yet it does not feature any of the original programming, only the movies.

External links

* Showtime US (not accessible outside the United States)
* Showtime Australia
* Showtime Arabia
* Showtime Scandinavia
* Showtime Extreme, Spain

Showtime: Encyclopedia BETA

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