Paramount Global, the parent company of Paramount+ and Showtime, has revealed today plans to merge the two streaming services into a unified platform named Paramount+ with Showtime. The merger is scheduled to take place on June 27, 2023, and aims to provide subscribers with an extensive collection of content from both brands.
The new platform, Paramount+ with Showtime, will introduce two subscription tiers to cater to different user preferences. The premium tier, priced at $11.99 per month or $119.99 per year, will encompass all of Showtime’s offerings, including original series such as Yellowjackets, Billions, and Dexter: New Blood, as well as documentaries and sports programming.
On the other hand, the lower-priced tier, available at $5.99 per month or $59.99 per year, will exclude Showtime content while still providing an extensive library of movies and shows from Paramount+. Notable titles from Paramount+ include Top Gun: Maverick, The Lost City, Star Trek: Picard, 1883, and Mayor of Kingstown.
Moreover, the merger will have an impact on the Showtime cable-TV network, which will undergo rebranding as Paramount+ with Showtime by the end of this year. This revamped network will feature a combination of original content from Paramount+ and its own unique shows. As a result, the standalone Showtime app will be discontinued following the merger.
This strategic move by Paramount Global is in response to the dynamic landscape of the streaming market, where numerous mergers and rebrandings have occurred in recent years. For instance, Warner Bros. Discovery recently launched Max, the integration of HBO Max and Discovery+. Additionally, Disney announced its plans to incorporate Hulu content into its Disney+ platform later this year.
CEO Bob Bakish of Paramount Global highlighted that this merger will provide consumers and advertisers with a “one-stop shop” experience, while simultaneously reducing content expenditure and increasing profitability. He believes that Paramount+ with Showtime will offer subscribers the “best of both worlds” by delivering a diverse and premium streaming experience.
