 Logo used since 2022 | |
Type of site | OTT streaming platform |
|---|---|
| Area served | Parts of Europe (seefull list of countries) |
| Owner | NBCUniversal (Comcast) Paramount Media Networks (Paramount Skydance Corporation) |
| Key people | Monty Sarhan (CEO) |
| URL | Official website |
| IPv6 support | Yes |
| Registration | Required |
| Users |  6.2 million (estimated) (as of 31 December 2024[update])[1] |
| Launched | 20 September 2022; 3 years ago (2022-09-20) |
| Current status | Active |
SkyShowtime is a European joint-venture betweenComcast andParamount Skydance Corporation which combines programming fromPeacock andParamount+ as well asSky Studios.[2] SkyShowtime launched in European markets where Sky does not operate their satellite and cable services, with viewers in countries like theUnited Kingdom andIreland getting access to bothParamount+ andPeacock on their Sky Q and NOW boxes along withSky Glass television sets instead.[3][4][5][6]
On 18 August 2021,Comcast andParamount Global announced the formation of ajoint venture to launch a newsubscription video on demand service that would launch in over 20 European markets encompassing 90 million homes, including key markets such asSpain,Poland,Portugal,Netherlands, and theNordic countries.[7] SkyShowtime was structured with equal investment and joint control byParamount Global andComcast.[8]
On 11 January 2022,Monty Sarhan was named CEO of SkyShowtime.[9]
The service was launched in theNordic countries on 20 September 2022, where it replaced the previously operatedParamount+. It arrived in theNetherlands andPortugal on 25 October 2022.[10] On 14 December 2022, SkyShowtime launched inBosnia and Herzegovina,Bulgaria,Slovenia,Serbia,Croatia,Montenegro, andKosovo.[11] SkyShowtime launched on 14 February 2023 in the rest of Central and Eastern Europe (includingHungary andPoland, where it replaced the previously operated SVOD service of Paramount+, known as Paramount Play in Poland).[12] It finished its roll-out by launching inSpain andAndorra on 28 February 2023,[13] with its content later being incorporated as part of more expensive packages in the Spanish TV operatorMovistar Plus+ at the beginning of 2024.[14][15]
On 10 January 2023, SkyShowtime announced the acquisition of 21HBO Max original scripted series produced in Europe that were initially developed for the HBO streaming platform and television channels acrossthe Nordics,Spain, andCentral and Eastern Europe.[16] In total, the acquired series accounted for over 150 hours of local original programming. The programming became available afterWarner Bros. Discovery, as part of its post-merger restructuring, decided to no longer produce originals inthe Nordics,Central and Eastern Europe, and theNetherlands.[17] The majority of the shows were already in production or had been already finished.[18][19] New shows that had never premiered on HBO were part of the deal and were branded as SkyShowtime Originals, including “ID” (Finland and Sweden), “The Winner” (Czechia and Slovakia) and “Warszawianka” (Poland). SkyShowtime also premiered the second season of the HBO España original series “Por H o Por B,”, the first season of which also became available on the service.[20] In its first year, SkyShowtime premiered ten Original Series, including four acquired as part of the HBO deal.[21]
In addition to the streaming service, SkyShowtime also has two linear television channels in some of the regions where the service is available. These were initially available in the Nordic countries, inherited from Paramount+, before being expanded to Spain on 15 January 2024, albeit only one of the channels became available and is exclusive to the Spanish TV operatorMovistar Plus+,[22] to Romania on 25 April 2024 exclusive toDigi,[23] to Poland on 22 August 2024 exclusive toPlay,[24] to Bulgaria on 12 October 2024 exclusive toA1 Bulgaria,[25] to Serbia on 14 November 2024 exclusive toA1 Srbija,[26] and to Hungary on 27 November 2024 exclusive toMagyar Telekom.[27]
On 16 February 2024, it was announced that SkyShowtime would increase prices on 23 April in all of its territories except in Poland, while on the same day an ad tier would be launched, with its pricing being either reduced or retained in comparison with the original value of the service, depending on the region.[28]
On 8 October 2024, it was announced that a new tier would be implemented under the name SkyShowtime Premium on 29 October across all territories. This new tier would allow for more downloads to watch offline, more simultaneous streams and the ability to watch content in 4K.[29]
SkyShowtime features many series from theLaw & Order franchise, library and new series fromShowtime such ascrime dramaDexter, family dramaRay Donovan,American Gigolo, and theTaylor Sheridan productions forParamount Network andParamount+ such asYellowstone, andTulsa King. It also includes other shows fromParamount+ such asFrasier[30] among others as well as originals such asBosé.
Regarding movies, the service includes films fromParamount Pictures andUniversal Pictures such asTop Gun: Maverick,Jurassic World Dominion,Minions: The Rise of Gru,The Northman,Sing 2,Trolls World Tour,Sonic the Hedgehog 2,The Lost City,Downton Abbey: A New Era,Nope,Belfast,Ambulance, andThe Bad Guys.
| Release date | Country/territory |
|---|---|
| 20 September 2022 | Denmark |
| Finland | |
| Norway | |
| Sweden | |
| 25 October 2022 | Netherlands |
| Portugal | |
| 14 December 2022 | Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| Bulgaria | |
| Croatia | |
| Montenegro | |
| Serbia | |
| Slovenia | |
| 14 February 2023 | Albania |
| Czech Republic | |
| Hungary | |
| Kosovo | |
| North Macedonia | |
| Poland | |
| Romania | |
| Slovakia | |
| 28 February 2023 | Andorra |
| Spain |