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Showtime Announces Subscription-Free Streaming Plan

Posted by samzenpus on from the more-streams dept.

An anonymous reader writes: Following in HBO's footsteps, Showtime has announced that it is launching a stand-alone streaming service in mid-July. Simply called "Showtime," the service will launch through a partnership with Apple and costs $10.99 a month. "Going over-the-top means Showtime will be much more accessible to tens of millions of potential new subscribers," said CBS Corp. President and CEO Leslie Moonves in a statement about the deal. "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," he added.

6 of 84 comments (clear)

  1. Subscription-free? by uberdilligaff · · Score: 5, Insightful

    How exactly is a service that you have to sign up for and costs $10.99 a month "subscription-free"?

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    Against stupidity, the Gods themselves contend in vain. --Friederich Schiller
    1. Re:Subscription-free? by ArcadeMan · · Score: 4, Informative

      Because unlike other stupid "channels" available on AppleTV, this one doesn't require you to already be a cable TV subscriber.

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  2. Great, but not great by ArcadeMan · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Finally someone else who understands that limiting yourselves to already existing customers is an extremely dumb idea.

    Unfortunately, the price is too high. Netflix has already established that the price for a streaming package is around 8$ per month. Don't mention the cost of any other streaming service because most of them don't exist outside of the U.S.A., something else that Netflix understood very early in the game.

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  3. Subscription? by pretzel87 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    "millions of potential new subscribers" to the subscription-free service?

    1. Re:Subscription? by bobbied · · Score: 4, Insightful

      "millions of potential new subscribers" to the subscription-free service?

      Marketing, Marketing.... Just don't think about it and pay up..

      It's just like the "unlimited data plan" that gets you throttled if you use too much on AT&T... What's old is new again.

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  4. Re:THIS is our answer to cord cutting? by blueshift_1 · · Score: 4, Insightful
    I disagree for items like HBO & Showtime. They are both non-standard channel groups that you have to buy to view. They tend to be between $10-15 extra to get with you normal cable/satelite service. So the external subscription isn't really significantly more than getting it anyway.

    However, for standard programming you really have to see if the cost is justified. For me, an Antenna + netflix is more than enough. I think the traditional model will always appeal to some, but it's nice to see that a la carte options are available if that is all you need/want.