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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History

Showtime primarily shows motion pictures as well as some original programming and occasional boxing and MMA 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. ^[1] Its first program was Celebration , a concert special featuring Rod Stewart, Pink Floyd and ABBA. ^[2]

On March 7, 1978, Showtime expanded to the national market via satellite, competing with HBO and other pay cable networks.

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/The Movie Channel, Inc. (later 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's share of Showtime/TMC, making them the sole owner of Showtime once again.

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 1997 remake of Lolita , directed by Adrian Lyne.

In the early 2000s, Showtime launched several additional multiplex channels including Showtime Too (a pun on its current name, Showtime 2), Showcase (formerly Showtime 3), Showtime Beyond and Showtime Extreme . Showtime had also launched several channels exclusively for digital cable: Showtime Family Zone , Showtime Next , and Showtime Women .

Showtime Networks also owns the channels The Movie Channel, The Movie Channel Xtra and Flix. Each multiplex channel offers movies and programs fitting each channel's particular theme. Premieres 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, adult programming and boxing.

Showtime also became one of the first cable TV networks to broadcast an HDTV version of its channel, along with Dolby Digital sound.

In 2005, Showtime became a subsidiary of the newly renamed CBS Corporation, after the CBS/Viacom split of that year.

Channels

Showtime operates eight multiplex channels. (The abbreviation in parenthesis is used as an on-screen identifier and in programming guides.)

• Showtime (SHO) The flagship channel - blockbuster movies and original series
• Showtime 2 (SHO2): Secondary channel. It was previously known as Showtime Too.
• Showtime Showcase (SHOC): Similar to Showtime Too. Previously known as Showtime 3 (SHO3).
• Showtime Beyond (SHOB): A mix of Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Horror films as well as series.
• Showtime Extreme (SHOX): Action & adventure, thrillers, gangster and martial arts films.
• Showtime Family Zone (SHOF): Family oriented programming. All pictures are 'G', 'PG', or 'PG-13' rated.
• Showtime Next (SHON): Interactive service that is geared towards adults 18-24.
• Showtime Women (SHOW): Targeted to women.

Showtime also packages the Eastern and Pacific feeds of the primary and multiplex services, giving viewers a chance to watch programs 3 hours earlier or later depending on their geographic location. All channels are also available in 1080i high definition.

Original programming

• 30-Minute Movie Series
• A New Day in Eden (1982-1983)
• American Candidate
• Barbershop: The Series (2005)
• Beggars and Choosers (1999–2000)
• Beverly Hills Bordello (1996-1998)
• Big Brother: After Dark (2007—)
• Brotherhood (2006—2008)
• Brothers (1984-1989)
• Californication (2007—)
• The Chris Isaak Show (2001–2004)
• Dead Like Me (2003–2004)
• Debbie Does Dallas ... Again (2007)
• Deeper Throat (2009)
• Dexter (2006—)
• Dirty Pictures (2000 film)
• ELITEXC: Xtreme Combat (2007—2008)
• Family Business (2003–2006)
• Fat Actress (2005)
• Free for All (2003)
• Full Color Football: The History of the American Football League (2009—)
• Freshman Diaries
• Going to California (2001–2002)
• ''Hard Knocks (1987—) Sitcom starring Bill Maher (Not the HBO Sports Show)
• ''Huff (2004–2006)
• I Can't Believe I'm Still Single (2008—)
• Inside the NFL (2008—)
• Interscope Presents: The Next Episode
• It's Garry Shandling's Show (1986–1990)
• Jamie Foxx Presents: Laffapalooza
• Jeremiah (2002–2004)
• The Leap Years
• Lock 'n Load (2008)
• Love Street (1994-1996)
• The L Word (2004–2009)
• Masters of Horror (2005–2007)
• Meadowlands (2007)
• Murder in Space (1985)
• Odyssey 5 (2002)
• The Outer Limits (1997-2002)
• Out of Order (2003)
• Penn & Teller: Bullshit! (2003—)
• Poltergeist: The Legacy (1996–1999)
• Queer as Folk (2000–2005)
• Queer Duck (2002–2004)
• Ready or Not (1993-1995, continued on Disney Channel from 1996 to 1997)
• Red Shoe Diaries (1992–1999)
• Resurrection Blvd. (2000–2002)
• Rude Awakening (1998–2001)
• Sexual Healing (2006-2007)
• Shelley Duvall's Faerie Tale Theatre (1982–1987)
• Sherman Oaks (1995–1997)
• ShoBox: The New Generation (2001—)
• ShoMMA (2009—)
• ShoXC (2007—2008)
• Showtime Championship Boxing (1986—)
• Sleeper Cell (2005–2006)
• Soul Food (2000–2004)
• Stargate SG-1 (1997–2002, Seasons 1–5)
• Steven Banks Home Entertainment Center (1989)
• Street Time (2002–2003)
• Stories of Passion
• The Tale of Sweeney Todd (1998)
• This American Life (2007—)
• Total Recall: 2070 (1999)
• Tracey Ullman's State of the Union (2008—)
• The Tudors (2007—)
• Underground (Damon Wayans' Underground)
• United States of Tara (2009—)
• Washingtoon (1985)
• Weeds (2005–present)

Current programming

• Big Brother: After Dark (2007–present)
• Body Language (2009)
• Californication (2007—)
• Dexter (2006—)
• I Can't Believe I'm Still Single (2008—)
• Inside the NFL (2008—)
• Nurse Jackie (2009-)
• Penn & Teller: Bullshit! (2003—)
• Secret Diary of a Call Girl (2008—)
• ShoBox: The New Generation (2001—)
• Showtime Championship Boxing (1986—)
• This American Life (2007—)
• Tracey Ullman's State of the Union (2008—)
• The Tudors (2007–present)
• United States of Tara (2009–present)
• Weeds (2005–present)

Upcoming Series/Pilots

• Camelot: a contemporary series retelling of "Camelot," with "The Tudors" Michael Hirst and Morgan O'Sullivan serving as creative kings. Hirst ("Elizabeth," "Elizabeth: The Golden Age") will pen the scripts and exec produce, along with O'Sullivan ("P.S. I Love You") and Douglas Rae.
• Untitled Seth Rogen Comedy: about three twentysomethings who learn about life and love while running a pornography shop. Rogen and Evan Goldberg will executive produce. Matthew Bass, who is credited as an assistant to both comedy filmmakers on "Pineapple Express" and "Superbad," will pen the script and co-exec produce. ^[3]
• Full Color Football: The History of the American Football League SHOWTIME Sports® and the National Football League® celebrate the 50th season of the maverick American Football League, from its tumultuous beginnings to its unlikely merger with the rival NFL, through an insightful NFL Films -produced five-part documentary premiering on Wednesday, Sept. 16 at 8 p.m. (ET/PT). The show follows the birth of the only league to successfully rival the NFL from its innovative and wild beginnings to the most stunning upset in pro football history and the eventual powerhouse merger. Through rare interviews from some of the biggest names in the AFL, including Joe Namath, Al Davis and John Madden, long lost game highlights and never before seen footage, Full Color Football tells the inside story of the outsiders who forever changed the game. Pop culture personalities, authors such as Dave Steidel (Remember the AFL ~ The Ultimate Fan's Guide to the American Football League ) and fans/historians like Ange Coniglio (remembertheafl.com website) will also pay tribute and analyze the vibrant history and free-thinking spirit of the AFL coaches and players who dared to challenge the NFL and strive for greatness.
• Syns: formerly known as "Dolls' Hospital," is set in a world where the Syns, humanlike synthetic beings much like the replicants in "Blade Runner," are used for various purposes. The project was originally developed by Stephen Volk for the BBC, but Showtime bought the U.S. rights to the project. Crew: "Supernatural" supervising producer/writer Sera Gamble and "Jericho" consulting producer John McNamara.

Movies

After its launch, Showtime 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, which lasted 10 years. After the old Viacom was split in two corporations, the output deal with Paramount was not renewed after 2007, thus the pay-cable rights will transfer in 2009 to a new premium channel initiated in part by Viacom. Showtime has also agreements with IFC Films (which it shares broadcasting rights with Starz), ThinkFilm, certain films put out by The Weinstein Company (those that are distributed theatrically in conjunction with MGM Studios), and the newly re-formed United Artists (still a subsidiary of MGM). In 2008, the channel signed a deal with First Look Pictures to air their films.

On December 11, 2005, Paramount announced that it had purchased DreamWorks SKG in a deal worth $1.6 billion. It is still unclear when Showtime will add films from the studio onto its viewing schedule, as films being put out by the studio are still part of the studio's output deal with HBO.

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 Donnie Darko .

As of 2006, Showtime has a partial deal with Rogue Pictures, allowing them to broadcast particular films put out by the studio (especially those originally produced for video), including Carlito's Way: Rise to Power and Dave Chappelle's Block Party .

Showtime also plays a lot of classic movies from United Artists, Columbia Pictures, and some early/mid '90s movies from Miramax Films and Warner Bros. (usually ones that are, at least, 13 years old from their initial theatrical exhibition).

Usually films which Showtime has pay-cable rights will also run on The Movie Channel and Flix during its time of license.

Even though Showtime doesn't have an output deal with certain titles from Universal Pictures, a number of films from Universal are played on Sundance Channel since the channel is a joint venture of Showtime, Universal, and The Sundance Institute.

The future of the channel was put into question when it was announced that three of its major suppliers of films Paramount Pictures, MGM, and Lionsgate, as well as their respected subsidiaries (Paramount Vantage and United Artists), would be teaming up together to form a new premium movie channel. Called Epix, it is set for a May 2009 launch as a broadband Internet service, and will arrive later that year on television. This is primary due to the company split-up of parent company Viacom into two separate entities, Viacom and CBS, the latter owning Showtime. Paramount Pictures' contract with the channel expired January 2008. This includes such films as Cloverfield and Iron Man being available to the new channel upon its initial run. MGM and Lionsgate's contracts expired at the end of 2008. . It is unclear whether or not this deal will include films from DreamWorks Pictures, given that it was purchased by Paramount Pictures and their feature films are distributed theatrically by Paramount, though DreamWorks has an output deal with rival network HBO.

On July 15, 2008, it was announced that Showtime had signed a seven-year deal with The Weinstein Company to exclusively air their films during their initial premium-channel broadcasts, starting with their 2009 film slate. This includes films such as Nine , All Good Things and Quentin Tarantino's much-anticipated Inglourious Basterds . The deal also includes films from the studio's subsidiary Dimension Films.

Showtime has begun airing direct-to-video movies from Anchor Bay Entertainment, such as Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon and Hatchet . Ironically, Anchor Bay is owned by Showtime's rival, Starz.

On December 4, 2008, Showtime entered into an exclusive 4-year output deal with Summit Entertainment to air 42 of their films during their initial premium cable run. The deal includes all the films in the Twilight franchise, as well as the films Push , Knowing with Nicolas Cage, and the horror remake Sorority Row .

Slogans

• 1984-1988: Showtime Excitement / We Make Excitement
• 1997-2005: No Limits
• 2005-present: TV. At Its Best.

Showtime Around the World

Showtime has two main pay TV networks that operate using its name; Showtime Australia and Showtime Arabia. It also has several channels that are licenced to use its name; Showtime Scandinavia (Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden), Showtime Extreme (Spain), and others.

See also

• Showtime Networks