Showtime Networks
| Company type | Division |
|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment |
| Founded | September 6, 1983 |
| Headquarters | United States |
Area served | United States |
Number of employees | 1000 (2021) |
| Parent | Paramount Skydance Corporation |
Showtime Networks, Inc. operates as a division within the American media giant Paramount Skydance Corporation, specifically under its networks segment. It oversees the company's premium pay television cable television offerings, including its primary channel, Showtime. Since its inception on September 6, 1983, the company has been active in the entertainment sector, employing around 1,000 staff members and achieving $1 billion in revenue during 2021.
Overview
The company originated in 1983 as Showtime/The Movie Channel, Inc. following the merger of Viacom with Warner-Amex Satellite Entertainment (present-day Paramount Media Networks), uniting premium channels Showtime and The Movie Channel. In 1984, Warner Communications (now Warner Bros. Discovery) purchased American Express’s share in Warner-Amex, acquiring a 50% stake in Showtime/TMC. By 1986, Viacom had obtained complete ownership, incorporating MTV Networks and the pay-per-view service Viewer’s Choice, which merged with Home Premiere Television in 1988. That same year marked the rebranding to Showtime Networks, Inc.
In 1994, Showtime Networks collaborated with Home Box Office, Inc. to establish a consolidated content advisory framework across their premium channels. This initiative aimed to address parental concerns by rating programs based on violence, language, sexual content, and mature themes. The system improved subscriber awareness regarding program appropriateness and was updated later that year to adopt uniform content codes.
Following Viacom’s split in 2005, Showtime Networks became part of CBS Corporation. It jointly managed Sundance Channel until its divestiture to Rainbow Media (now AMC Networks) in 2008. In December 2019, CBS Corporation reunited with Viacom to form ViacomCBS (later renamed Paramount Global and currently operating as Paramount Skydance).
Cable networks currently owned by SNI
The year listed indicates when each channel was incorporated into SNI.
- Paramount+ with Showtime (1983)+
- SHO2 (1991)
- Showcase (1996)
- Showtime Extreme (1998)
- SHO×BET (2020)*
- Showtime Next (2001)
- Showtime Family Zone (2001)
- Showtime Women (2001)
- The Movie Channel (1983)+
- The Movie Channel Xtra (1997)
- Flix (1992)
+Channels initially launched under Warner-Amex Satellite Entertainment prior to 1983.
*Renamed from Showtime Beyond in 2020.
In recognition of its programming excellence, SNI received a Peabody Award in 2002 for Bang Bang You're Dead. Additionally, in 2008 it earned a Technology & Engineering Emmy Award for Best Use of Commercial Advertising on Personal Computer for the companion website of The L Word.