Paramount to merge with streaming service Showtime June 27

Paramount GlobalU.S.’s flagship streaming service Paramount+ will be bundled with its Showtime app in the US on June 27, the company said on Monday.

Pricing will increase with the newly merged streamers, as Paramount announced earlier this year. Paramount+ will increase from $9.99 to $11.99 with the Showtime Premium tier, while the Paramount+ option without Showtime content will increase from $1 to $5.99.

The integration goes beyond Paramount’s streaming options. The premium cable-TV network, known for series like “Yellowjackets” and “Billions,” will also be rebranded as Paramount+ alongside Showtime, and the company will also shut down the standalone Showtime app by the end of the year. .

Once integrated, the Showtime TV network will also include content from Paramount+, which has produced original series from popular franchises such as “Yellowstone” and “Criminal Minds.” Showtimes on Pay-TV bundles are an additional subscription fee.

Paramount has said it expects peak losses for its fledgling streaming service Paramount+ this year.

The combined platforms will also help cut content spending, which has been a recent focus for media companies as they seek to make streaming profitable.

warner bros discovery has been cutting costs since completing its merger. The company is also launching Max, a combination of HBO Max and Discovery+, on Tuesday. However, Discovery+ will also remain as a standalone service.

disney It announced this year that it would cut costs by $5.5 billion, including $3 billion on said materials. Last week, CEO Bob Iger said Disney would add Hulu content to its Disney+ platform, a move toward a one-app experience for consumers and streamlining business for advertisers. The company will also focus on adding more ad-supported customers, and plans to increase its ad-free streaming prices later this year.