HBO isn’t the only premium television network that plans to let you stream content without a cable (or satellite or FiOS) subscription next year. The Wall Street Journal reports CBS has revealed that Showtime will probably launch its own online-only streaming service in 2015.

showtime anytime

These moves by HBO and Showtime are big departures for the networks. Up until now you’ve only been able to stream content from the HBO Go or Showtime Aytime apps if you were already paying to watch those channels on your TV.

But a growing number of folks are opting to pay for internet service while foregoing traditional TV plans. Those cord-cutters can often pick up broadcast TV from CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX, the CW, PBS, and other local stations with an old-fashioned antenna. But the only way to get content from Showtime, HBO, and other premium, cable-only channels has been to wait for it to hit Netflix, Amazon Prime, or DVD.

CBS recently launched a $6-per month streaming video service that would let subscribers stream thousands of TV episodes on-demand, but much of that content is already available elsewhere.

HBO and Showtime, on the other hand, have a range of popular shows that aren’t available elsewhere unless you’re already a paying TV subscriber (at least if you want to watch recent episodes and don’t want to download or stream them illegally) such as Game of Thrones (HBO), True Detective (HBO), Homeland (Showtime), and Master of Sex (Showtime).

Neither HBO nor Showtime have revealed how much they plan to charge for their internet-only plans… or how they plan to launch their new online-only services without annoying cable TV providers.

Support Liliputing

Liliputing's primary sources of revenue are advertising and affiliate links (if you click the "Shop" button at the top of the page and buy something on Amazon, for example, we'll get a small commission).

But there are several ways you can support the site directly even if you're using an ad blocker* and hate online shopping.

Contribute to our Patreon campaign

or...

Contribute via PayPal

* If you are using an ad blocker like uBlock Origin and seeing a pop-up message at the bottom of the screen, we have a guide that may help you disable it.

Subscribe to Liliputing via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 9,546 other subscribers

2 replies on “Showtime to offer cable-free, online streaming in 2015”

  1. Regarding the “annoying” point – I’d say it’s highly likely both HBO and SHO offer these online-only offerings via our broadband provider (which in many cases IS our television provider). The incumbents will protect themselves.

  2. Price will be everything for this. Charge too much then the pirating will be out of control.
    What does Netflix charge about $9? I for one am not willing to pay more than that for streaming service and CBS is why I am setting up my own PVR.

Comments are closed.