Showtime
Learn more about Showtime
- For other uses, see Showtime (disambiguation).
Showtime is a subscription television brand used by a number of channels and platforms around the world, but primarily refers to a group of channels in the United States.
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[edit] History
Showtime primarily shows motion pictures as well as some original programming and occasional boxing matches. Showtime, originally a service of Viacom, went on the air on July 1, 1976, first shown on a local cable system in Dublin, California. On March 7, 1978, it expanded to the national market via satellite, competing with HBO. In 1979, Viacom sold 50% of Showtime to TelePrompTer.
In 1982, Westinghouse, who had acquired TelePrompTer the previous year, sold its share of Showtime back to Viacom. In 1983, Viacom and Warner-Amex Satellite Entertainment merged Showtime and The Movie Channel to form Showtime Networks, Inc.. 1984 saw the premiere of Showtime's first original movie, The Ratings Game, both starring, and directed by, Danny DeVito. In 1985, Viacom acquired Warner-Amex's cable properties, including their share of Showtime Networks.
In 1990, Showtime ventured into acquiring and premiering independent films directly for the channel, originally as part of its 30-Minute Movie anthology series of short films. One of its first premieres, 12:01 PM, was nominated for an Academy Award. In the years that followed, Showtime expanded its acquisitions into the realm of feature-length fare, including the critically acclaimed remake of Lolita, directed by Adrian Lyne.
In the early 2000s, Showtime launched several additional multiplex channels including including Showtime Too (a pun on its previous name, Showtime 2), Showtime Showcase (also known simply as "Showcase"; formerly Showtime 3), Showtime Beyond, Showtime Extreme, Showtime Family Zone (Available on Digital cable only), Showtime Next (Available on Digital cable only), Showtime Women (Available on Digital cable only)
Showtime Networks also owns the channels The Movie Channel, The Movie Channel Xtra and Flix. In addition, it manages Sundance Channel, which is a joint venture of CBS Corporation, Robert Redford and NBC Universal. Each multiplex channel offers movies and programs fitting each channel's particular theme. Premiers of popular movies are usually made on the primary channel.
In 2000, Showtime launched the "Showtime Interactive 24.7" channel—providing DVD-like interaction opportunities to its entertainment offerings.
In the 2000s, Showtime began test marketing a subscription-video-on-demand SVOD system. Now there is a Showtime subscription-video-on-demand channel called Showtime On Demand, which users are able to see episodes of Showtime original series, movies, and specials like boxing and porn. This channel is only available on digital cable in the US.
Showtime also became one of the first cable TV networks to broadcast an HDTV version of its channel, along with Dolby Digital sound.
Showtime's official website is unusual in that it can only be accessed from computers located within the United States. (This may be due to licensing restrictions involving programming). It is one of if not the only broadcaster with such a website restriction.
In 2005, Showtime became a subsidiary of the newly renamed CBS Corporation, after the CBS/Viacom split of that year.
[edit] Channels
Showtime operates eight multiplex channels and a high definition channel.
Showtime: Hit movies & first-run films, Original pictures and original hit series as well as championship boxing |
Showtime Too: Secondary channel, features more movies, hit series and original pictures as well as championship boxing. It was previously known as Showtime 2. |
Showtime Beyond: A mix of Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Horror films as well as series. |
Showtime Extreme: Action & adventure, thrillers, gangster and martial arts films. It has over 60 'extreme' films each month and a double feature on Sundays that spotlights a different action star each week. |
Showtime Family Zone: Family oriented programming, including award-winning films and original series. All pictures are 'G' rated, 'PG' rated, or 'PG-13' rated, no 'R' rated movies air on Showtime Family Zone. Special programming includes an all-ages original picture on Saturday, can't-miss flick on Sundays and double features on weeknights. Showtime Family Zone is currently only available on digital cable. |
Showtime Next: Interactive service that is geared towards adults 18-24. Showtime Next features first-run films (over 50 each month), original pictures, short films and animation. Showtime Next is currently only available on digital cable. |
Showtime Showcase: Similar to Showtime Too, providing viewers with even more movie watching opportunities. It airs first-run films and original pictures. It was previously known as Showtime 3. |
Showtime Women: Targeted to women, it airs blockbuster films, original series and behind the scenes features. Movies are from various genres including action-adventure, drama, comedy and thrillers. Showtime Women is currently only available on digital cable. |
Showtime also packages the Eastern and Pacific feeds of the primary and multiplex services together, allowing viewers a second chance to watch the same movie/program two hours earlier/later depending on their geographic location.
[edit] Original programming
- 30-Minute Movie Series
- American Candidate
- Barbershop: The Series
- Beggars and Choosers
- Brotherhood
- Brothers
- The Chris Isaak Show
- Chrono Crusade
- Dead Like Me
- Dexter
- Family Business
- Fat Actress
- Free For All - Animated
- Freshman Diaries
- Going To California
- Huff
- Interscope Presents: The Next Episode
- It's Garry Shandling's Show
- Jamie Foxx Presents: Laffapalooza
- Jarhead
- Jeremiah (series)
- The Leap Years
- The L Word
- Masters of Horror
- Odyssey 5
- The Outer Limits
- Out of Order
- Penn & Teller: Bullshit!
- Poltergeist- The Legacy
- Queer as Folk
- Queer Duck
- Red Shoe Diaries
- Resurrection Blvd.
- Rude Awakening
- Sexual Healing
- Shelley Duvall's Faerie Tale Theatre
- Sherman Oaks
- ShoBox: The New Generation
- Sleeper Cell
- Soul Food
- Stargate SG-1 (Seasons 1 - 5)
- Steven Banks Home Entertainment Center
- Street Time
- Total Recall: 2070
- Underground (Damon Wayans' Underground)
- Washingtoon (animated series)
- Weeds
[edit] Branding
Showtime's launch logo made in 1976 featured the channel's name in the all caps in a italic Franklin Gothic Bold. For a few years, the logo was accompanied with a circle made to look like a TV screen. The circle was dropped in the early 1990s. The current Showtime logo consisting of the network's name still in all caps with the 'SHO' imprinted on a circle was implemented when the network rebranded itself in 1997. The logo which is slightly similar to Cinemax's current logo introduced the same year, is shown most of the time with just the circle 'SHO'.
Following in the footsteps of Starz, the main Showtime networks brand many of its films with transparent logos of each respective network, to the chagrin of many who would rather see clean screenings of movies with no commercial branding whatsoever. Cinemax also brands films and series with logos, which usually only appear for a few minutes before being removed and reappear later on.
[edit] Logos
Showtime logo used from 1976? to 1997, also currently used as logo for Showtime Scandanavia. |
Showtime logo used since 1997. |
Showtime Arabia logo, logo currently used is nearly identical to former Showtime U.S. logo. |
[edit] Movies
The quality and selection available on Showtime and The Movie Channel has fallen off considerably in recent years. This is attributable to a few factors. After its launch, Starz signed exclusive first-run agreements with several movie studios. After being acquired by Viacom in 1994, Paramount Pictures began an output deal with Showtime (then also owned by Viacom), effective after 1997. In addition to Paramount, Showtime has agreements with MGM Studios, Lions Gate Films, IFC Films (which it shares broadcasting rights with Starz), ThinkFilms among others.
Unlike HBO and Starz, Showtime does not air weekly premieres of movies, instead opting to air them on a three to four week lag.
Though not owning the broadcasting rights to show first-run movies from 20th Century Fox, Showtime has been able to show independent films the studio owns the home video rights to, even if they didn't release them theatrically. Most notably being Mel Gibson's controversial 2004 film, The Passion of the Christ. Others include Party Monster, Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior, Woman Thou Art Loosed and, recently, Donnie Darko.
As of 2006, Showtime has a partial deal with Rogue Pictures, allowing them to broadcast particular films put out by the studio, including Carlito's Way: Rise to Power and Dave Chappelle's Block Party.
The window between a film's inital release in theatres and its inital screening on Showtime is much larger then on HBO and Starz. This considerably large window, unfortunately, also makes it that Showtime doesn't retain the premium-channel rights to most of its films for long. For the most part, about 8 months after its initial premiere, a film will show up on basic cable, usually Turner Network Television. An example of this is the 2004 version of The Punisher, which debuted in January 2006 and just recently (November 2006) premiered on basic cable channel FX.
Showtime also plays a lot of classic movies from United Artists, Columbia Pictures, and some early/mid 90's movies from Miramax Films and Warner Bros..
Usually films which Showtime has pay-cable rights will also run on The Movie Channel during its time of license.
[edit] Showtime Around the World
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Showtime US (not accessible outside the United States)
- Showtime Australia
- Showtime Arabia
- Showtime Scandinavia
- Showtime Extreme, Spain
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Cable Networks: Flix | Showtime | Showtime Beyond | Showtime Extreme | Showtime Family Zone | Showtime Next | Showtime Showcase | Showtime Too | Showtime Women | Sundance Channel (co-owned with Robert Redford and NBC Universal) | The Movie Channel | The Movie Channel Xtra |
