It’s the age of change, and it’s enough to make your head spin. Streaming platforms and network television have been at odds since their inception. By and large, streaming is now a part of most people’s everyday lives, but despite rumors of its demise, network and cable TV continues to hang in there. But that doesn’t mean everything stays just the same, as we saw on Deadline. In a mind-bending move, the Paramount+ streaming channel and the Showtime network channel will merge together to create two platforms named Paramount+ with Showtime. And this merge is coming to the US on June 27.
Of course, this will have an impact on the content and pricing of the two platforms… And the subscription price consumers will have to pay. Confused yet? Let’s break it down.
Jump To: What Is Paramount+ with Showtime? // Subscription Costs for the Streamer // Content Changes
Paramount+ with Showtime to Replace Separate Streamers and Showtime Channel
Right now, on the streaming side, there’s the Showtime streaming service and the Paramount+ streaming service. And both those products are going to come together to create Paramount+ with Showtime (the streamer). The premium tiers of Paramount+ with Showtime will have Showtime content available alongside Paramount+ content. This merge will occur on June 27. And, officially, the standalone Showtime app will cease to exist by the end of this year.
Meanwhile, Showtime is also currently a cable network. That network will no longer be Showtime and will instead become Paramount+ with Showtime (the TV channel). On that end, the TV network’s profile will receive a boost by also airing “Paramount+ originals in addition to the SHOWTIME originals, as well as Paramount Pictures movies that come to the services.”
Subscription Price Increases for Paramount+ with Showtime
Paramount+ with Showtime will see a price increase from Paramount+’s current cost. According to Variety, the premium tier, which currently costs, $9.99 on Paramount+ will rise to $11.99 for Paramount+ with Showtime’s ad-free offering. Of course, this will contain both Paramount+ and Showtime content.
Meanwhile, the essential plan, which contains ads and will not include Showtime content, will see its subscription cost increase from $4.99 a month to $5.99.
Content Changes for Paramount+ with Showtime
Content-wise, cancellations at Showtime have begun to occur, according to Deadline. The shows Three Women, Let the Right One In, and American Gigolo are reportedly canceled or heading for cancellation. Additionally, it was reported that Dexter: New Blood received a cancellation at Showtime. However, this may no longer be the case.
Regardless of the fate that awaits New Blood, it sounds like a Dexter prequel series is coming. This Dexter outing will focus on a younger version of the character. Executive Chris McCarthy notes, “The origin story will be set in Dexter’s hometown of Miami, and will touch on stories of real-life serial killers of the time period.” Additional Dexter spinoff series could also hit the new streamer. These could focus on “the back stories of compelling Dexter characters,” including one featuring the Trinity Killer.
Additionally, it looks like Paramount+ is also removing content from its platform. Per Deadline, among other things, Jordan Peele’s The Twilight Zone, which ran for two seasons, is no longer available on the platform. Also missing are The Real World: Homecoming, Coyote, No Activity, Guilty Party, and The Harper House.
Luckily, our personal favorite Showtime offering, Yellowjackets, seems thankfully safe. According to executive Chris McCarthy, it exemplifies one of Showtime’s strengths (complex characters) alongside shows like Billions. Well, we like the sound of that, anyway. Because we need Yellowjackets season two, and we will not take no for an answer. Angry buzzing will ensue.
Now that we’ve mostly wrapped around this change, we’ll have to wait and see what these latest landscape shenanigans bring to all of us. We’ll cross our fingers for only good things.
Originally published on January 30, 2023.
