Added Showtime to the list of media that pulls content from their streaming platforms.
Sources tell The Hollywood Reporter that Paramount’s global-backed cable company pulled it from its streaming platform Lots of short-lived, underperforming shows. The list includes American Gigolo and Let the Right One In —both canceled by Early Monday – and Jim Carrey’s vehicle Kidding, the first season of the anthology Super Pumped, Be God in Central Florida and American Rust . Also missing from the Showtime streaming platform are seasons of purchased content, including The End and Wakefield. Other shows may be included in the mass removal.
A representative for Showtime did not immediately respond to THR’s request for comment.
The news comes after Showtime parent company Paramount Worldwide announced linear premium cable TV The web and premium versions of Paramount+ will be released hours after launch, both of which will be rebranded as Paramount+ on Showtime later this year. Under Chris McCarthy, who added Showtime to his remit, which also includes Paramount Network and fellow linear brands Comedy Central and MTV, the premium cable network is expected to focus on original productions with “franchise potential,” Because he wants to cut costs for cable companies. It’s unclear how or if Showtime’s current executive leadership team will be affected by the merger and rebranding.
As for mass removals, Showtime expects to let rights holders of affected shows buy series. Let the Right One In, for example, has been purchased. The affected titles will also be removed from Paramount+, which is currently accessible to subscribers who purchased the bundle through Showtime. They may be removed from Paramount+ in the next few days.
Removing titles from streaming platforms has become a frustrating trend over the past few months as conglomerates look to adjust budgets and cut costs. Removing completed seasons Allowing Showtime and its competitors to write down ownership of content and internally owned stores to third-party buyers, as many try to monetize underperforming content. For example, HBO Max dropped the big-budget Westworld , hoping to sell it to a third-party ad-supported streamer. That would allow parent company Warner Bros. Discovery to generate additional revenue for a show that drew so many viewers in its fourth season that the creator’s six-season plan was cut short. HBO Max original series Generation was recently sold to Fox-backed AVOD service Tubi, bringing more value to the former.
On Becoming a God in Central Florida Content removal was a tribute to Kirsten Dunst (Kirsten Dunst) the latest hit comedy from dark forces. Originally developed for AMC, the series was purchased and produced by YouTube. When YouTube dropped the original script, Showtime stepped in and aired the first season. Showtime renewed the show for a second season after receiving good reviews, but canceled it due to scheduling challenges posed by the pandemic.
Meanwhile, the fate of Super Pumped Season 2 remains a question mark on Showtime, as the anthology is was updated with a focus on Facebook.
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