From The Hollywood Reporter · Alex Weprin · · 1m 20s
SkyShowtime may be sold or shut down
Comcast and Paramount Skydance just told staff that a wind down of their European streamer is on the table.
In brief
Comcast and Paramount Skydance just told staff that a wind down of their European streamer is on the table. SkyShowtime reached real scale in Europe, but scale was not enough to survive its owners rethinking streaming. Originally reported by The Hollywood Reporter.
A streamer under review
Comcast and Paramount Skydance have started a review of strategic options for SkyShowtime, their European joint venture. Shutting it down is one of the options.
The board wrote to the CEO
The board told CEO Monty Sarhan on Monday in a letter seen by The Hollywood Reporter. He passed it straight on to staff.
“No decisions have been made, and all options remain under consideration.”
Peacock plus Paramount+, abroad
SkyShowtime bundles NBCUniversal, Sky Studios and Paramount programming into one service, roughly what Peacock and Paramount+ offer together in the US.
Five years, 20 countries
Announced five years ago, the service now runs in more than 20 European markets. Sarhan says it has several million subscribers and stands alongside the most established players.
“stand in scale alongside the most established players in the market”
The ground moved underneath it
When the venture was formed, David Ellison had not yet bought Paramount. He is now chasing Warner Bros. Discovery, and every media giant is rewriting its streaming strategy.
Nothing changes today
The board says the service runs as normal and every role is unchanged for now, with consultation required in each market before final decisions. Staff are asked to hold momentum into 2027.
“This update is the beginning of a dialogue, not the end of one.”
The headline
SkyShowtime reached real scale in Europe, but scale was not enough to survive its owners rethinking streaming.
