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Showtime's Anytime TV service starts streaming on your Xbox 360
If you're hanging on to an Xbox 360, you now have an easy way to catch up on Nurse Jackie or Penny Dreadful without reaching for the DVR remote. Showtime Anytime has finally reached Microsoft's previous-generation game console, letting you stream both live and on-demand shows so long as you already get Showtime through a conventional TV provider. It won't please cord cutters any more than earlier Anytime releases because of that limitation, but it should be handy for a bedroom TV. And don't fret, Xbox One owners -- there's an app coming for the newer system later this year, so you won't be Showtime-free for much longer.
HBO Go, Twitter among 35 apps coming to Xbox One by year's end [Update]
Xbox One and Xbox 360 will receive 45 apps by the end of the holiday season, Microsoft announced today. Among the apps are Twitter, Facebook, Vine, HBO Go, ShowTime Anytime, Comedy Central and Major League Gaming, some of which already have a presence on Xbox 360. Xbox One's Twitter app will integrate directly with its live TV offerings, as viewers will be able to view a stream of tweets for shows they're watching at the moment, as well as a "trending" section of the console's OneGuide that ties to popular programming going on at the time. Head past the break for a full list of the incoming apps and the regions they will launch in, courtesy of Xbox Wire. Update: To clarify, 35 of the apps will arrive on Xbox One as opposed to the 45 combined for Xbox One and Xbox 360. We've updated our headline accordingly.
Variety: Microsoft finds a co-op partner in Showtime for Halo TV series
It's been almost a year since Microsoft first announced its live-action Halo TV series, but the amount we know about it hasn't exactly changed that much. That stops now, as we've learned that Redmond and premium network Showtime are deep in talks to tag-team distribution, according to a recent Variety report. Apparently, the program is scheduled to debut first on the cable channel and then become available on the Xbox platform with "enhanced interactivity" of some sort. A deal with a pair of showrunners is also close to being locked, as Variety tells it, which indicates that at least some progress has been made toward moving into production. With this not surfacing during Microsoft's original-programming focused event earlier this week, though, it's possible that we could hear new details (or maybe even see some video evidence) of the Spielberg-produced drama come E3.
Charter customers can finally access Showtime on their mobile devices
If you thought Time Warner Cable was late to the Showtime party, think again. Charter subscribers have been waiting for access since 2011, and now it's finally here. Starting today, customers can join in with the the rest of the cable crowd and stream live (or past) episodes of their favorite Showtime production on its Showtime Anytime app, which is available on iOS, Android, Roku and the web. As long as you have a Showtime subscription, getting your Homeland fix is as easy as signing into the app with your Charter username and password. Additionally, the same programming from Showtime Anytime will be available from Charter.net and the company's TV app in the near future.
Showtime's Anytime app arrives on Roku
If you subscribe to Showtime, you'll now be able to watch Homeland on your Roku. Previously only available for mobile and desktop, the Showtime Anywhere app gives you access to both current and past episodes of the premium cable's original series, including Dexter, House of Lies and Nurse Jackie, in addition to live broadcasts. A "my list" feature lets you organize your favorite programs, and the app lets you resume watching where you left off on another device. Roku shared this news on its blog today, complete with a list of which providers will get access to the Showtime Anytime app: AT&T U-verse, Brighthouse, Cablevision's Optimum TV, DirecTV, Time Warner Cable, Verizon FiOS and "more to come." (Missing from that list, of course, is Comcast, which is poised to acquire Time Warner.) Current Showtime subscribers can add the channel through their Roku accounts.
Premium channels strike back: Showtime, HBO and Starz say they're adding subscribers, not losing them
Yesterday The NPD Group released data from a survey showing fewer US TV watchers are subscribing to premium cable channels, but now the networks say that isn't true. As first reported on the LA Times Company Town blog, spokespeople from HBO, Showtime and Starz have all refuted the numbers. Of the three, only Starz is publicly traded and reports its subscriber count quarterly, so it has the most detailed stats. While the fourth quarter numbers won't be out for another month or so, its customer count is at 22 million as of Q3, up 1.2 million from a year before, and 1.9 million 18 months prior. HBO and Showtime don't release the same kind of numbers, but point to stats from another market researcher, SNL Kagan that show their subscriber count and market penetration growing consistently over the past few years. According to Showtime, it's added one million customers per year, each year, for the last six years. Rich Greenfield of BTIG also points to quarterly earnings snippets that indicate recent growth for premium TV channels and considers the results of NPD's 7,500 household survey to be "misleading/meaningless." So why the discrepancy? Looking at the NPD chart, we see it measure the percentage of internet households with premium channels, so it could be skewed by people recently adding internet, but not premium channels. Whatever the case, even as Netflix (which will report its Q4 numbers tomorrow afternoon), Amazon, Hulu, Redbox and the rest expand, it appears the old model of TV distribution isn't on its deathbed just yet. Update: As reported by The Wrap, NPD has pulled the original report from its website, and is reviewing its data.
NPD: premium TV networks losing subscribers as streaming services continue to grow
Don't color us surprised by The NPD Group's latest report, one that highlights the decline in subscriptions for paid TV networks over the last couple of years in the US. According to the research, there was a six percent overall drop in the amount of subscribers to channels like HBO and Showtime in the past two years; conversely, video streaming services had a four percent growth in that same period of time. As of August 2013, NPD says 32 percent of American households were subscribed to a premium TV network, while 27 percent held an on-demand streaming subscription. Not surprisingly, the findings note that Netflix is leading the way among US folks, although Hulu Plus and Amazon Prime aren't far behind and have experienced "the biggest growth benefits in the category." A sign o' the times indeed -- and with companies like Netflix producing great original content, these numbers will likely keep getting better for members of the streaming pack. Update: As reported by The Wrap, NPD has pulled the original report from its website, and is reviewing its data, after HBO, Showtime and Starz all claimed their numbers show recent growth instead of decline.
Showtime Anytime is finally available for Time Warner Cable customers
Showtime Anytime has been able to be accessed with a number of service providers, but one of the major players, Time Warner Cable, was absent from that list since the beginning. Starting today, however, TWC customers can begin accessing Showtime's streaming offering, including via the iOS/Android applications and on the web. Naturally, you'll need to have a Showtime subscription as part of your cable package to view the content -- if that's all taken care of, you'll be ready to stream Dexter and Homeland in no time and anytime you want. And hey, Bright House Networks subscribers, this applies to you as well.
Netflix captures all eight seasons of Dexter, streaming (and screaming) begins on Halloween
Dexter may have exited airwaves this year, but Showtime's serial about a serial killer cop is getting a new lease on life when all eight seasons arrive on Netflix. The first four seasons arrive on Halloween, with the following seasons expected by January 1st, 2014 -- two drops perfectly timed with mass video consumption around national holidays. Smart! Looks like Showtime's Anytime app isn't the only streaming option anymore. The announcement is the latest in a long line of partnerships Netflix arranged with various content owners and creators, from the folks behind Damages to Disney. And that's to say nothing of the company's recent in-roads on original content creation: House of Cards, Orange is the New Black and Arrested Development are but a few recent hits in that department. Call us crazy, but we expect even more content announcements from Netflix before the holidays kick into full swing.
CBS strikes a deal with Verizon, continues war of words with TWC
Normally, content providers and pay-TV platforms striking deals to deliver channels to subscribers is sort of non-news. But not every signed contract comes against the backdrop of an almost month-long blackout affecting millions of customers. While Time Warner Cable is still CBS-less, Verizon has locked up the broadcaster's channels for another three years, including CBS Sports Network, which has been missing in many of FiOS's larger markets. If you read between the lines of the press release (embedded after the break), you'll see this message isn't aimed at customers or even the news media, it's directed squarely at Time Warner. New York, Los Angeles and Dallas -- the three cities that are currently mired in the blackout -- are called out specifically as areas where CBS stations are available through FiOS TV. As part of the statement released, president of television networks distribution Ray Hopkins said, "This deal was reached in a short period of time, and CBS has once again achieved fair value for our over-the-air rights." And, just to rub some salt in the wound, the press release ends with a reminder that CBS also owns the highly desirable Showtime. With the war of words clearly continuing between the two feuding media giants, we wouldn't hold our breath for a resolution anytime soon.
LG and Showtime join forces to help you contextualize 'Dexter,' 'Ray Donovan'
Oh, engagement, that ever-important holy grail of TV watching. How does a network like Showtime cut through the noise distracting viewers sitting in front of the tube? The cable channel's already offered up Sho Sync on the iPad, to give viewers of show like Dexter supplemental content, and now it's going straight to the source, leveraging LG's LivePlus platform to offer its app on TV sets. The partnership brings the app to the hardware company's 2012 and 2013 line of internet-connected sets, so you can get character backgrounds, trivia and other extra features while you watch. Distracting? Perhaps, but at least it's the show that's distracting you from the show, right? The app works regardless of how you watch the programs --- live, on-demand, DVD, it's all good. There's a press release just after the break for you to engage with.
Showtime Anytime apps for Android and iOS updated to deliver live programming
We've been accustomed to having mobile access to the entire back catalog of our favorite Showtime series via the Showtime Anytime app since its launch in 2011. Users will no longer be limited to past episodes on their handsets and tablets, however, as both the Android and iOS apps were updated today with the ability to stream a live feed of whatever's airing on Showtime. All you need to do is install the update, choose whether Showtime East or West best suits your viewing preference, and you'll be able to enjoy Dexter perform his latest ritual on your mobile device every Sunday night.
Amazon expands CBS content on Prime Instant Video, lands an Under the Dome exclusive
Amazon only managed to land a slice of CBS' library for Prime Instant Video on the first pass; it's coming back for a second helping, including one of its first cracks at genuinely recent content from the network. A widened licensing deal gives subscribers access to further CBS and Showtime series that include Jericho, The L Word and an unspecified number of other shows. And for those intrigued by the broadcaster's upcoming adaptation of Stephen King's Under the Dome, Amazon will be the only choice for many viewers: Prime Instant Video will be the exclusive home for subscription streaming and purchased downloads of the series, delivering streaming episodes about four days after their air date in order to shelter CBS' traditional advertisers. Amazon may not have have completely locked in an audience between this and the Downton Abbey deal, but the recent set of exclusives is likely to leave Netflix feeling nervous.
Comcast Xfinity TV Player update adds downloads for offline viewing on iOS, Android
Comcast brought video on-demand streaming to subscriber's mobile devices since early last year, but now an update has added the option to download (some) content for offline viewing. Arriving simultaneously on iOS and Android, the Xfinity TV Player apps support downloads from premium channels Showtime (which was also one of the first up for streaming when that launched), Starz, Encore and MoviePlex. We downloaded the app on both platforms and found it to work in similar fashion, assuming you're already logged in (and have any of those channels in your package) the option to download is right next to the usual stream button with options available for two different levels of picture quality. The high quality option wasn't quite HD quality to our eyes, but certainly passable for viewing on a flight or subway. We did run into a hiccup on Android however, with an "unknown error" stopping us from downloading files to our Galaxy S II running ICS. If there were more content available it would be a decent no-additional-hardware-needed matchup for solutions like TiVo's Stream or DirecTV's Nomad, while we wait for that you can get a taste of the apps for each platform at the source links. Update:As of 11/20, Comcast pushed another update to the Android app, and after logging in again, we were able to download shows to our Galaxy S II without issue. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Yahoo and Samsung announce multi-year interactive TV partnership
We've had mixed feelings about Yahoo's Connected TV platform, but Samsung appears to think that its the next big thing. The two mega corporations announced a multi-year partnership on Monday that will bring the restructuring internet company's interactive television software to Samsung's 2012 lineup of smart TVs. Far from the traditional clunky Facebook and Twitter smart TV apps, Yahoo's setup brings interactive content to the programming that you're watching, such as trivia, program statistics and other types of playable games. You'll also have the option to use your smartphone or tablet as a surrogate remote control to view and share additional interactive content. As promising as this may sound, our biggest concern here is that this feature also recognizes commercials and may offer additional advertisements on top of the ones that you're already viewing. Programming partners currently include: Showtime and National Geographic, which makes us wonder what kind of ad suggestions will run during episodes of Dexter -- knives, duct tape and plastic wrap, anyone?
Netflix locks up Academy Award nominated exclusives from The Weinstein Company
If you're looking for more content to watch on Netflix's Watch Instantly streaming service -- especially since all those Starz movies are exiting stage left at month's end -- we have good news, as it just announced a multi-year exclusive deal with The Weinstein Company. The agreement covers foreign language, documentary and "certain other movies" that will be watchable in their pay-TV window only on Netflix, and not HBO or Showtime. That includes such high profile selections as The Artist, which is nominated for 17 Academy Awards this weekend and Best Documentary nominated Undefeated, as well as other flicks like Coriolanus and The Intouchables. Of course, this is still Netflix so while fans of subtitles and exposés may be sated, The Weinstein Company's more mainstream flicks and Dimension Films releases like Scream 4 aren't included, as they're still Showtime exclusives due to the deal it signed with the channel back in '08. Either way, more movies is more movies and you can check out all the details in the press release after the break, hopefully this deal works out better than HD DVD's exclusive Weinstein pact did back in the day.
Showtime Anytime now available to Verizon FiOS TV customers (hands-on)
Adding to Verizon FiOS TV's impressive lineup of streaming services bundled with its premium TV service, Showtime Anytime can now be access by FiOS TV subscribers. This deal also ensures subscribers will continue to able to add Showtime, The Movie Channel and Flix to their lineup through 2017. We took a quick look at the Showtime Anytime iPad app, originally launched in October, and found it very polished and easy to navigate.
Daily iPad App: Showtime Social
Showtime Networks recently released a social iPad app that'll let you explore Showtime's lineup of movie and television programs and share what you find with your Facebook or Twitter friends. The app has trailers, webisodes, photos and more from Showtime's movie and popular television shows like Dexter and Homeland. Not surprisingly, the app also lets you find and sign up for Showtime service. It's a social app that aggregates all the tweets and Facebook status updates in a stream that appears on the right side of the display. You can respond via those social networks and add your own real-time reaction with four preset emotions: happy, sad, shocked or angry. At the end of each show, this information will be compiled into a timeline that summarizes people's reactions to the program. Besides the preview and social features, Showtime Social includes scheduling information so you can view the TV show and movie lineup for the next couple of hours or the next few days. You can also use iOS's notification feature to remind you when a program is about to begin. This app serves as a sneak peek into Showtime's programming and will be an excellent compliment to Showtime's upcoming Showtime Anytime, a TV Everywhere service expected to launch in the next few weeks. The Showtime Social app is available for free from the App Store. [Via Engadget]
Showtime launches Anytime streaming portal, social iPad app
Just in time for the return of everyone's favorite serial killer, Showtime Anytime soft-launched recently, bringing online access to the network's library of movies, TV shows and more. Multichannel News reports AT&T U-verse subscribers are the first to gain access, although this same content has already been streaming on Comcast's Xfinity TV website and app. It's no HBO Go yet -- more cable companies and a few mobile apps will be necessary to match its rival there -- but the approach is the same, after pulling its shows from Netflix this TV Everywhere offering hopes to add enough value to keep viewers on the traditional pay-TV train a little longer. While there's no self-branded streaming app yet, the channel has also launched a Showtime Social iPad app to keep viewers tied in with their friends and other viewers while they watch -- let us know if it makes Dexter any more / less creepy.
Netflix adds Mad Men in the US today, CBS content in Canada and Latin America later
We're not sure how Don Draper would have sold a 60 percent price increase on your most popular service package but maybe Netflix executives can make a guess after they start watching the first four seasons of Mad Men today on Watch Instantly. Netflix's Lionsgate deal will keep reruns flowing for years to come, while a new agreement with CBS International is bringing its programming -- including Showtime shows like Dexter that were recently yanked from the US Netflix service -- to viewers in Canada (who already had Mad Men) and Latin America (where it locked up a cache of telenovelas yesterday). This CBS agreement is separate from their (also non-exclusive) US deal that brought Star Trek back, but international viewers will still get to both TOS and TNG, as well as shows like Twin Peaks and 90210. Check the press release after the break for more details on the international deal, the source link for a time warp back to 1960s NYC or hit the comments below to explain how canceling your $7.99 per month service is a stand against greedy corporations.