Premium U.S. cable network Showtime has officially launched its cord-cutting streaming service ahead of some big season premieres this weekend.
The standalone service, which does not require a cable subscription, can now be viewed on iPhone, iPad and Apple TV as well as Roku set-top boxes and televisions in the States.
The service simply Christened “Showtime” will also be available on PlayStation consoles and within the Hulu platform in the near future.
The company had pledged to roll out its game-changing offering before the season premieres of Ray Donovan and Masters of Sex on Sunday July 12, but hadn’t confirmed a launch date until today.
The streaming service is now offering a 30-day trial to users through its website (via Engadget) The monthly rate following the trial will be $10.99, while those Hulu subscribers signing up will get it for $8.99.
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The service arrives as a rival to the HBO Now platform, which arrived earlier this year to free the network from the shackles of cable and satellite subscriptions.
That launch appears to be having a domino effect, with Showtime joining the list of options for viewers seeking a la carte, no contract routes to their favourite TV content.
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.