Comcast and ViacomCBS announce SkyShowtime, streaming for some Euro markets

• Paramount+ to exit some markets less than 12 months after launch

• SVOD merger with content from Sky, NBCUniversal, Universal Pictures, Peacock, Paramount+, Showtime, Paramount Pictures, and Nickelodeon

Comcast Corporation and ViacomCBS this week announced a partnership to launch a new subscription video on demand (SVOD) service in more than 20 European territories encompassing 90 million homes.

SkyShowtime will bring together movies and original series from the NBCUniversal, Sky and ViacomCBS portfolio of brands, including titles from Showtime, Nickelodeon, Paramount Pictures, Paramount+ Originals, Sky Studios, Universal Pictures, and Peacock.

The service’s slate will span all genres and audience categories, including scripted dramas, kids and family, key franchises, premiere movies, local programming, documentaries/factual content, and more.

The new SVOD service is expected to launch in 2022, subject to regulatory approval. It will ultimately be available to consumers in Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Hungary, Kosovo, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden.

The launch means that Paramount+ will exit the Nordic countries less than 12 months after the service launched.

SkyShowtime will be home to 10,000+ hours of entertainment.

Raffaele Annecchino

“With the launch of SkyShowtime we are well positioned to utilize our global content engine to create a compelling streaming offering, quickly and at scale, with a smart strategic phased investment,” said Raffaele Annecchino, president and chief executive officer of ViacomCBS Networks International. “As a complement to our recently announced Paramount+ partnership with Sky in the UK, Italy, and Germany, SkyShowtime represents a huge opportunity to accelerate our market expansion and build a leadership position in SVOD in Europe.”

Dana Strong

“Our new streaming service, SkyShowtime, will combine the best of the US and Europe with iconic brands and world-class entertainment for millions of consumers in more than 20 new markets in Europe,” said Dana Strong, group chief executive, Sky. “On the heels of Peacock coming to Sky, this partnership provides an innovative approach to quickly scale internationally and monetize content across Europe. Drawing on the strength of the incredible programming from NBCUniversal, Sky, and ViacomCBS, and powered by Peacock’s platform technology, SkyShowtime will provide a truly compelling lineup for the whole family and strong brand recognition across these regions.”

Strong is a former COO of Australian regional subscription TV service Austar.

The new partnership will be structured as a joint venture, with equal investment and joint control by ViacomCBS and Comcast.

Further detail on the SkyShowtime service offering, including subscription price, will be announced at a later date.

See also: Paramount+: Beverley McGarvey & Jarrod Villani reveal streaming strategy