Showtime Launching Stand-Alone Streaming Service in Mid-July

Showtime has announced Wednesday that it is launching a stand-alone streaming service in mid-July, making the premium channel available for the first time without a cable subscription.

The service, also called Showtime, will launch in early July through a partnership with Apple. However, unlike HBO’s recently unveiled stand-alone offering, HBO Now, also launched in partnership with Apple, Showtime will be available for a lower price ($10.99 a month) and not just available to Apple TV users. Apple TV, iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch users will be able to subscribe to Showtime on the Showtime app anywhere in the U.S. and the service will be accessible on all Apple devices as well as on Showtime’s website. Additional platforms and providers will be announced soon, Wednesday’s announcement teased.

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The Showtime stand-alone service’s launch will coincide with the premieres of new seasons of Ray Donovan and Masters of Sex, debuting on Sunday, July 12.
 
“Going over-the-top means Showtime will be much more accessible to tens of millions of potential new subscribers,” CBS CEO Leslie Moonves said in a statement. “Across CBS, we are constantly finding new ways to monetize our programming by capitalizing on opportunities presented by technology.  This works best when you have outstanding premium content — like we do at Showtime — and when you have a terrific partner like Apple — which continues to innovate and build upon its loyal customer base.”
 
Showtime CEO Matt Blank added, “At Showtime, we’re excited to offer consumers the opportunity to subscribe in new ways, by simply having an internet connection. Our intent is to make Showtime available to viewers via every manner possible, giving them an enormous amount of choice in accessing our programming, starting with the season premieres of our award-winning series Ray Donovan and Masters of Sex.”

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Subscribers to Showtime’s stand-alone streaming service will have access to the live East and West coast feeds of Showtime and unlimited viewing of every season of Showtime original series and movies, documentary and sports programming. New customers who sign up through Apple in July will be able to have a 30-day free trial of the service.

“We’re excited to offer Apple customers Showtime’s live channels and extensive on demand library of great TV shows and movies, without a cable or satellite subscription,” Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vp internet software and services, said in a statement. “iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Apple TV customers will now be able to subscribe to Showtime directly and instantly start viewing their favorite programming with the same simplicity as buying an app.”