Showtime To Launch Standalone OTT Service In July

Read original story on: AdAge

The TV industry continues moving towards over-the-top streaming: on Wednesday, Showtime announced their plan to launch a long-awaited standalone subscription service. Simply named SHOWTIME, the service will officially launch in July exclusively on Apple devices for the initial three months—just like HBO did with HBO Now. Showtime, however, will undercut HBO’s streaming service with a monthly fee of $10.99, two-thirds of its archrival’s price.

In a statement issued today by CBS and Showtime, the new OTT service was described as another instance of the network “finding new ways to monetize [their] programming by capitalizing on opportunities presented by technology”. As the cord-cutting movement continues to gain momentum, demonstrated by the recent news that Comcast now has more Internet users than TV subscribers, all media owners need to follow where the audience is heading and make content available across platforms.

Showtime Anytime Apps Updated For Live Programming

The Showtime Anytime app has brought mobile access to Showtime’s several series’ since 2011, but users will now have access to live episodes. Thanks to the app’s update, users can stream a live feed of whatever is presently airing on Showtime. This is a big addition to the already burgeoning second-screen ecosystem, and is sure to compete with streaming services like the recently announced Chromecast, as well as Apple’s Airplay.