Paramount Exploring Shuttering Showtime’s Stand-Alone Streaming Service And Shifting Content To Paramount+

deadline.com:

In the latest sign of companies looking to streamline their brands in an increasingly streaming-centric world, Paramount Global has explored discontinuing Showtime streaming service and folding its content into the Paramount’s flagship Paramount+ offering.The Wall Street Journal first reported the news of the internal discussions Tuesday and stressed it’s early days.

A source within Paramount confirmed talks have been held but emphasized that they are part of a broader assessment of distribution in the future.

The lucrative traditional pay-TV business of Showtime remains intact after decades as a tried-and-true part of the linear bundle.

The question now is about what shape it takes years from now, as streaming ambitions continue to grow and the linear base shrinks.