Comcast and ViacomCBS have joined forces to unveil a new European subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) service fronted by Comcast-owned Sky.
SkyShowtime will bring content from across the NBCUniversal, Sky, and ViacomCBS brands to more than 20 European countries, with entertainment, movies, and original series available from titles including Showtime, Nickelodeon, Paramount, Sky Studios, Universal, and Peacock.
“Our new streaming service, SkyShowtime, will combine the best of the US and Europe with iconic brands and world-class entertainment for millions of consumers in more than 20 new markets in Europe,” said Dana Strong, Group Chief Executive at Sky. “On the heels of Peacock coming to Sky, this partnership provides an innovative approach to quickly scale internationally and monetise content across Europe. Drawing on the strength of the incredible programming from NBCUniversal, Sky, and ViacomCBS, and powered by Peacock’s platform technology, SkyShowtime will provide a truly compelling line-up for the whole family and strong brand recognition across these regions.”
Expected to launch next year, the SVOD platform will be available Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Hungary, Kosovo, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden.
The joint venture will benefit from equal investment and joint control by Comcast and ViacomCBS.
“With the launch of SkyShowtime we are well positioned to utilise our global content engine to create a compelling streaming offering, quickly and at scale, with a smart strategic phased investment,” said Raffaele Annecchino, President & Chief Executive Officer of ViacomCBS Networks International. “As a complement to our recently announced Paramount+ partnership with Sky in the UK, Italy, and Germany, SkyShowtime represents a huge opportunity to accelerate our market expansion and build a leadership position in SVOD in Europe.”
