Another Reason to Dump Cable: Now You Can Get Stand-Alone Showtime

By Paula Bernstein

Another Reason Dump Cable: Now You Can Get Stand-Alone Showtime

Paula Bernstein

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Not to be outdone by HBO, Showtime will introduce its own stand-alone streaming service in early June, with Apple as its first partner.

The stand-alone service will be called simply SHOWTIME and the launch of the new service will coincide with new seasons of “Ray Donovan” and “Masters of Sex,” premiering on Sunday, July 12.

iPhone, iPad and Apple TV users will be able to subscribe to SHOWTIME via the SHOWTIME app for one monthly price of $10.99. Additional platforms and providers will be announced soon.

“Going over-the-top means Showtime will be much more accessible to tens of millions of potential new subscribers,” said Leslie Moonves, CBS Corporation’s President and Chief Executive Officer, in a statement. “Across CBS, we are constantly finding new ways to monetize our programming by capitalizing on opportunities presented by technology.”

This news comes on the heels of HBO’s introduction of its stand-alone streaming service HBO NOW, which it offers for $14.99/month. Like Showtime, HBO initially rolled out the service in partnership with Apple.

It’s a big deal for both premium cable services to introduce these services, because it marks the first time that viewers without a cable or satellite subscription can (legally) access HBO or Showtime programs. It also suggests a not-so-distant future where all networks will be offered a la carte.