SkyShowtime, is there room for another streaming service?
In the plethora of streaming services, we can add another provider to the list from this fall: SkyShowtime. Do we have to take out an extra subscription?
Once upon a time, there was a streaming service that drastically changed watching series and movies. Pirate Bay was pushed out of the market by making the legal offer affordable and, above all, easily accessible. Netflix changed home movie watching worldwide. No more subtitles from Keyboardje and Tokke & Suurtje, but just legally via your streaming service on your screen.
If something is a success, of course more will follow. We now have (in the Netherlands) in addition to Netflix, for example, Videoland, Disney+, Discovery Plus, Amazon Prime, Apple TV+ and recently HBO and ViaPlay. It is now puzzling which service your favorite series or movie is on and if you are unlucky you need to have several to be able to see all your favorites.
SkyShowtime
From the autumn, another one will be added to our small country: SkyShowtime. It was previously announced that the service would come to our country, but now it has been announced that it will be this fall. The big question is, of course, what does this streaming service have to offer that the rest don’t?
If you think, gosh, Sky and Showtime, I’ve heard of that. That’s possible, they also existed separately from each other before. To complicate matters, both Sky and Showtime are part of Viacom CBS and Comcast. Pretty much the largest media companies in America. There is no SkyShowtime in the US, but two separate streaming services, Paramount+ and Peacock.
offer
So SkyShowtime. The potential is great. Under the umbrella of these studios are titles such as Indiana Jones† The Godfather† Star Trek† Jurassic Park and Top Gun† And that’s just the movies.
Television channels such as NBC, MSNBC, E!, Bravo, Syfy, MTV and Comedy Central are also part of the group. Series as Criminal Minds† CSI† The Office† The Comedy Central Roast and Two and a Half Men could therefore just appear on the streaming service.
Subscription
Prices are not yet known, but it is now starting to get pretty expensive if you want to enjoy everything on offer. For Formula 1 a subscription to ViaPlay, for Marvel and the kids a subscription to Disney+, Amazon Prime if you’re a fan of Clarkson and now SkyShowtime for the Trekkies.
Every provider has to fight for subscribers, Netflix is starting to feel that too. The question is therefore whether the new player will opt for a competitive low price with a limited offer, a subscription with advertising, or whether the offer will become so strong that you as an enthusiast cannot ignore the new kid on the block.
We will know more in the fall, when it will be the turn of the Netherlands and 19 other countries in Europe for the launch of SkyShowtime.
