Showtime | |
---|---|
Launched | July 1, 1976 |
Owned by |
Showtime Networks (CBS Corporation) |
Picture format |
1080i (HDTV) 480i (SDTV) |
Slogan |
Brace Yourself (primary) Hold on Tight (secondary) |
Country | United States |
Language |
English Spanish (via SAP audio track; some films may be broadcast in their native language and subtitled into English) |
Broadcast area | Nationwide |
Headquarters | New York City, New York, United States |
Sister channel(s) |
The Movie Channel, Smithsonian Channel, Flix |
Timeshift service | Showtime East, Showtime West, Showtime 2 East, Showtime 2 West, Showcase East, Showcase West, Showtime Beyond East, Showtime Beyond West, Showtime Extreme East, Showtime Extreme West, Showtime Family Zone East, Showtime Family Zone West, Showtime Next East, Showtime Next West, Showtime Women East, Showtime Women West |
Website | www |
Availability
|
|
Satellite | |
DirecTV | 545 Showtime (east; HD/SD) 546 Showtime (west; HD/SD) 547 Showtime 2 (HD/SD) 548 Showcase (HD/SD) 549 Showtime Extreme (HD/SD) 550 Showtime Beyond (HD) 551 Showtime Next (HD) 552 Showtime Women (HD) 1545 Showtime On Demand |
Dish Network | 318 Showtime (east; HD/SD) 319 Showtime (west; HD/SD) 320 Showtime 2 (HD/SD) 321 Showcase (HD/SD) 322 Showtime Extreme 323 Showtime Beyond |
Cable | |
Available on most U.S. cable systems | Consult your local cable provider or program listings source for channel availability |
IPTV | |
Verizon FiOS | 865–874 (HD) 365–380 (SD) |
AT&T U-verse | 1852–1859 (HD) 852–866 (SD) |
Streaming media | |
Showtime Anytime |
www.showtimeanytime.com/ (U.S. cable internet subscribers only; requires login from pay television provider to access content) |
Roku Apple TV Hulu Playstation Vue Sling TV |
Internet Protocol television |
Showtime is an American premium cable and satellite television network that serves as the flagship service of the Showtime Networks subsidiary of CBS Corporation, which also owns sister services The Movie Channel and Flix. Showtime's programming primarily includes theatrically released motion pictures and original television series, along with boxing and mixed martial arts matches, occasional stand-up comedy specials and made-for-TV movies.
The Showtime brand is used by a number of channels and platforms around the world, but primarily refers to the group of eight multiplex channels in the United States. As of July 2015, Showtime's programming is available to approximately 28.693 million television households (24.7% of cable, satellite and telco customers) in the United States (28.516 million subscribers or 24.5% of all households with pay television service receive at least Showtime's primary channel). The channel and its corresponding networks are headquartered at Paramount Plaza on the northern end of New York City's Broadway district.
Showtime launched on July 1, 1976 on Times-Mirror Cable systems in Escondido, Long Beach and Palos Verdes, California through the conversion of 10,000 subscribers of the previous Channel One franchise. The following week on July 8, Showtime launched on Viacom Cablevision's system in Dublin, California; the channel was originally owned by Viacom. The first program and television special to be broadcast on Showtime was Celebration, a concert special featuring performances by Rod Stewart, Pink Floyd and ABBA. By the end of its first year on the air, Showtime had a total of 55,000 subscribers nationwide. On March 7, 1978, Showtime became a nationally distributed service after it was uplinked to satellite, turning it into a competitor with HBO and other pay cable networks.