After much speculation, Paramount CEO Bob Bakish confirmed in a memo last month that Paramount+ would be merging together with sister streaming service Showtime later this year. During Paramount’s earnings call today, we also learned that this merger would come with a price increase for Paramount+.
We don’t have all the details just yet, but as we gather more info we’ll keep you updated here at Shall I Stream it?. Here’s what we know so far about the Paramount+/Showtime merger.
What does this merger entail?
The Paramount+ Premium plan will be rebranded as “Paramount+ with Showtime” and will include content both from Paramount+ (like Star Trek: Picard and 1923) and Showtime (like Yellowjackets and Billions). The price for the Premium plan will go up from $9.99/month to $11.99/month.
The Paramount+ Essential plan will not include Showtime content but it will still see its price go up from $4.99/month to $5.99/month.
Meanwhile the Showtime cable channel will also be rebranded as “Paramount+ with Showtime” and include shows and movies from both platforms.
When will this happen?
All signs so far point towards the third quarter of 2023, which would mean between July and September of this year we will see Showtime and Paramount+ merge together.
For now, Paramount+ and Showtime will continue to exist as separate services, although you can watch content from both platforms in the Paramount+ app if you subscribe to the “Showtime Bundle.”
Will Showtime still exist as a standalone app?
My guess is no, but that hasn’t been officially confirmed yet.
Will Showtime still be available as an add-on to YouTube TV, Hulu, etc.?
Official details on this have not been confirmed, either.
Are there any changes to the content lineup?
Just like Warner Bros Discovery did with their controversial purge of content from their platforms, Paramount has begun pulling content to save costs. They’ve also laid off 120 people from Showtime as MTV Entertainment Studios and Showtime consolidate their leadership.
Removed shows from Paramount+ include Jordan Peele’s Twilight Zone reboot, Coyote, No Activity, Guilty Party, Interrogation, and The Harper House. Showtime has removed Kidding, Super Pumped, On Becoming a God in Central Florida, and American Rust.
While previous episodes remain on the platform, Showtime has cancelled future seasons of the shows Let the Right On In and American Gigalo.
Three Women, a series starring Shailene Woodley that’s based on a novel by Lisa Taddeo was cancelled by Showtime before being picked up by STARZ. Reruns of Jordan Peele’s Twilight Zone have also been picked up by SYFY.
On the flipside, Showtime has picked up the comedy series Uncoupled (which is produced by Paramount's MTV Entertainment) after it was cancelled by Netflix.
When will we find out more details on this merger?
Paramount is planning a “town hall” event for the press in Los Angeles the week of February 23rd where they will announced more information.
