Comcast and ViacomCBS joint streaming venture SkyShowtime gets regulatory approval
Comcast and ViacomCBS have received regulatory approval for their joint streaming venture, SkyShowtime, which will launch in 20 European markets later this year.
SkyShowtime prepped for a late 2022 roll out in 20 markets
With approval granted, the joint venture will be rolled out in markets including Denmark, Netherlands, Spain and Sweden, offering 10,000 hours of content across all genres.
Comcast and ViacomCBS veteran Monty Sarhan – who was promoted to SkyShowtime CEO earlier this year – said the streamer will offer a “unique and compelling entertainment service with a broad range of some of the world’s leading content to millions of consumers across these markets”.
SkyShowtime will combine premium and original content from Sky, NBCUniversal, Universal Pictures, Peacock, Paramount+, Showtime, Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon.
The companies will set out their full plans and pricing later.
The greenlight comes as Comcast and ViacomCBS prep the international rollout of their streamers Peacock and Paramount+. SkyShowtime will only be available in the markets where Peacock and Paramount+ don’t operate.
Raffaele Annecchino, president and chief exec of ViacomCBS Networks International, previously said SkyShowtime would be a “compliment” to Paramount+’s partnership with Sky in the UK, Italy and Germany, and that Showtime “represents a huge opportunity to accelerate our market expansion and build a leadership position in SVOD in Europe”.
Earlier this week, Peacock set out plans to prioritize its ad-supported subscription tier.
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