Could Paramount Network Be Shutting Down Soon?

As of Jan. 8, 2024, Paramount Global will rebrand the linear Showtime cable network as Paramount+ With Showtime — the same name as the company’s top-tier streaming package. With the name change, the premium cable network will add select Paramount+ original series.

According to Paramount, “The move aligns the brand with the Paramount+ With Showtime plan, a cornerstone integration for the streaming service, making this the first of its kind multiplatform brand that integrates streaming and linear content.” The company introduced Paramount+ With Showtime as the name of its ad-free streaming package this summer and said it would phase out the standalone Showtime streaming app around the end of 2023 and rebrand the cable network.

As part of the rebrand, Showtime subscribers as of Jan. 8 will have access to new Paramount+ original series “Sexy Beast,” the upcoming second season of video game adaptation “Halo” and additional programming from Paramount+, including “Halo” Season 1, Taylor Sheridan’s “Mayor of Kingstown” Seasons 1-2, “Star Trek: Discovery” Seasons 1-4 and “Wolf Pack” Season 1.

Of course something that hasn't been discussed here in general was the future of the current Paramount Network. After replacing Spike, the channel was meant to serve as alternative offering to the Showtime brand with its own range of reality shows, films and dramas.

As of 2022, the channel is basically another TCM and Sundance TV featuring reruns to classic dramas and sitcoms. Similar to Universal Kids, one would say that the channel was struggling to garner traction when it launched as it didn't have much longevity as the studios behind the production of to various content.

With the current Showtime channel set to rebrand to Paramount+ With Showtime it would raise a lot of confusion amongst consumers. Paramount Network would seem more like what Paramount Global is perceiving with Paramount+ With Showtime which isn't the case here.

If one would have to guess what future awaits Paramount Network it would more likely be consolidation or as seen with BET and the rest of Showtime Group - a possible sale. Unlike the latter, Paramount Network has become redundant so they'll likely have to just bundle the channel with the current offering.

Could Comedy Central, BET And MTV Be On The Chopping Block As Paramount Network Rolls Out In Asia?

Paramount+ is scheduled to launch in Africa later in 2023 and questions amount to the fate of the current linear offering available on DStv and several other pay-tv outlets within the market.

Although, Paramount (at the time ViacomCBS) expressed no interest in closing their linear offering as seen with The Walt Disney Company. It doesn't really take out the possibility that perhaps they'll close down only a few channels before the rest follow due to the rise in streaming.

As seen in other markets, Paramount has been reducing the amount of linear channels mostly brands that leverage repeats or other old programming even channels with less views are put on a pedestal.

 

 

As I've browsed in the linear offering for Paramount Africa there's about 4 channels which need saving or could be Paramount+ next appetizer and it goes as follows:

Comedy Central - before the overseas counterpart become an animation channel, Comedy Central features old shows like The Big Bang Theory, Two And A Half Men, Friends and Modern Family and fast forward to 2022 they remain attached to those programs.

BET - my least favourite amongst the three continues to build their existence from other brands. If you're not watching a program from a rival station then you're getting a mashup of Comedy Central, MTV and not long ago Nickelodeon.

 

 

MTV - although it has the same flaws as the other two mentioned channels. It builds itself on originality I mean you have shows like Catfish, Ridiculousness, Just Tattoo Of Us and Ex On The Beach but what's sad about this brand is the overshadowing particularly with MTV Base.

Also not long ago, the social pages of Comedy Central Asia is being phased out for Paramount Network which not long ago was terminated in some parts of Europe. The brand was said to be a flagship channel for drama series and sitcoms but with Paramount+ all that fell into the cracks.

Paramount in Africa had at the one point thought of including the channel in their portfolio but not much was done at the time and from what experts speculated if the brand were fortunate enough to launch it would be no different to Asia of replacing channels.

From another site's perspective, they targeted MTV for Paramount Network for the reasons mentioned above overshadowing but from my perspective what if the brand wanted bigger bait in this case, Comedy Central.

 

What if MTV and Comedy Central were to merge to form Paramount Network or another brand like Spike with few MTV series forming part of MTV Base and BET's offering.

This supposed channel can have a large chunk of MTV as there's a lot of originals on there with Trevor Noah being the star attraction and somewhere along the line a 2 hour block for sitcoms with 1 hour for drama series and movies allocated when needed.

I mean the concept could help reduce the level of repetition amongst stations. In the end, the decision is entirely up to Paramount if they want to repeat Friends for another 10-20 years let them as others move to streamers or find other means of entertainment.

 

But again the idea of them possibly reducing channels hasn't left my mind. What if the reason for the slow terminations had something to do with the ongoing rollout of Paramount+.

Most of the international content in Africa is often referred to as (EMEA - Europe, Middle East and Africa) and whenever the A hits something always happens sometimes the A is the first to undergo those changes even before EME but when new merchandise comes in we're often the last ones to get it.

Prediction: Paramount Movie Network Scrapped As Paramount Network Closes Down

In September 22, 2020, ViacomCBS president of Entertainment and Youth Brands Chris McCarthy told the media that Paramount Network planned to relaunch as a movie channel "within the next year", to be tentatively known as Paramount Movie Network. However, no further updates have been given over a year later.

The Paramount Network was a premium, general entertainment channel will carry "bold original scripted and non-scripted series" with Viacom that moved its best shows to the channel and rolled out several brand-new scripted series and drama series on this channel.

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Programming on the Paramount Network included programming and series like Waco, Heathers, American, Yellowstone, and Accused along with shows like Lip Sync Battle, Ink Master and Bellator MMA.

Over the years, the viewership began plummeting with several shows shelved or redirected to other networks.

The Paramount Movie Network would focus on original made-for-TV films featuring major talent, with a plan to premiere 52 films per-year. These films would have largely been produced by ViacomCBS Networks International properties alongside their local studios.

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Several statistics indicate that 50% of American households still pay for cable while the other percentage is occupied by streaming services with more households expected to pull the rug under cable.

Paramount Network has also seen a decline internationally so the idea of a placeholder being left in the United States seems highly unlikely especially one for more original productions if TV is about to die soon.

The concept of these "made-for-TV films" will likely go to Paramount+ which is said to be the home of premium storytelling and the reason for Paramount Network's demise in the United States and globally.

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ViacomCBS International End Transmission For Paramount Network In The UK, Could More Markets Follow?

4 years ago, ViacomCBS introduced Paramount Network as a premium, general entertainment channel carrying "bold original scripted and non-scripted series" like Heathers, Yellowstone, First Wives Club, Lip Sync Battle, Ink Master and Bar Rescue.

At the time, Paramount Network president of development Keith Cox said that Paramount Network is going to be famous for big bold originals. We want to make linear TV urgent again." Now the brand is set to be replaced by 5Action in the UK.

Paramount+ launch in the market could have some involvement as both brands are similar to some extent and ViacomCBS may not want to see that for any of their stations going forward.

NBCUniversal International has its own streaming service Peacock and the offering varies immensely with their linear stations and it seems like ViacomCBS is working toward that for the time being.

Comedy Central is currently described as the animation brand for adults while their linear stations continue with live sitcoms.

Although, Paramount Network may not be available in South Africa or the rest of Africa and ViacomCBS doesn't plan to pull a Disney under our heads. There has however been some minor adjustments within their portfolio.

MTV Europe division became MTV Global and even kids division Nickelodeon went through the same phase. Even though, there's no terminations set in site for these brands that doesn't exclude any possibility of a reduction or as they put it streamlining.

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Here Are The 44 Developments Coming To Paramount+

Paramount+ will include a library catalogue of 30 000 hours of shows and 50 exclusive and original new series that will debut over the next two years - including a Frasier and Rugrats series revivals and HALO - with 36 of these that will launch in 2021.

In a virtual investors' presentation done from inside a studio on Los Angeles' iconic Paramount lot, adopting the same style and format that Disney for Disney+ and Discovery Inc. used for Discovery+ the past few months, ViacomCBS executives unveiled its new Paramount+ - and with it the glut of content it plans to place on it.

"We know how to make hits. ViacomCBS has been and remains a consistent hitmaker, across genres, across demographics, across formats and across platforms," said Bob Bakish, ViacomCBS president and CEO.

As with HBO Max, Disney+ and Star, Discovery+, as well as peacock, ViacomCBS didn't announce or say anything about a rollout date or timeframe for South Africa - Africa's most developed TV market.

Paramount+ will launch in the United States, Canada and Latin America on 4 March, the Nordics on 25 March and in Australia later in 2021.

ViacomCBS executives did however say that the plan is to aggressively launch Paramount+ globally and wants to have between 65 and 75 million global subscribers by 2024.

That makes it highly likely that Paramount+ will eventually be made available in South Africa where it could also foreseeably be included as a tile on MultiChoice's latest DStv Explora Ultra decoder that already carries Netflix SA and Amazon Prime Video.

Paramount+ will cost $9.99 (R149.28), but a cheaper ad-supported version costing $4.99 (R74.56) will launch later this year.

ViacomCBS said that Paramount+ will cost considerably less outside of America - very likely in order to aggressively compete with Netflix and Disney+ as the two top global subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) services.

"We're leveraging the massive global reach of ViacomCBS to distribute Paramount+. We have a deep history of relationships with multichannel video programming distributors (MVPDs) and telco partners in every major market around the world," the company said. Nicole Clemens, the head of Paramount Television Studios, said that ViacomCBS is harnessing "Paramount's incredible library to create shows that come with a built-in fanbase for Paramount+.

While we have no shortage of source material, we're being very selective and strategic in choosing what IP is best positioned for modern streaming consumers".

From a Grease prequel to a fatal attraction Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies will be a TV series with both classic and new songs and a diverse cast as serve as a prequel to Grease. It will tell the story of how Frenchy's older sister Jane founded the Pink Ladies.

The film Flashdance is becoming a new drama series and will pick up from where the story left off but will be set in the present day.

The film Love Story is also becoming a series from Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage who were responsible for Gossip Girl and The O.C.

Fans of The Italian Job and The Parallax View can also look forward to series based on these iconic films.

Fatal Attraction is also being turned into a TV series for Paramount+, described as "a deep-dive reimagining of the psychosexual thriller" that starred Glenn Close and Michael Douglas.

An intriguing series is The Offer as a fictional series, but based on real-life, detailing the mafia-filled drama behind the making of the film The Godfather.

The Star Trek universe is expanding with Strange New Worlds with Anson Mount as Enterprise Captain Pike, while the kids animation series, Star Trek: Prodigy has abruptly moved from Nickelodeon to Paramount+. There will also be a second season of Star Trek: Picard.

The crime procedural Criminal Minds is also revived as a TV drama series and bringing the gang back together with the same showrunner, same breaking down of the criminal psyche and catching the bad guy. "Instead of a new case each week, it will be a single, fascinating case-story told over 10 episodes each season," said Nicole Clemens.

The Real Criminal Minds will be a "true crime" documentary series where a real FBI profiler analyses real cases and real criminal behaviour, illustrated by clips that viewers will remember from the series.

Paramount+ will also do a follow-up to the miniseries Waco as part of an anthology series entitled American Tragedy. Each season of American Tragedy will tackle difficult and complicated conspiracy-riddled moments in history.

The dramedy Younger is also moving to Paramount+ for its 7th and final season. Paramount+ will also have 6666 (working title) as a spinoff from the Yellowstone drama series that will basically tell the story of how cattle ranches started and grew in America.

"Founded when Comanches still ruled West Texas, no ranch in America is more steeped in the history of the West than the 6666."

"The 6666 is where the rule of law and the laws of nature merge in a place where the most dangerous thing one does is the next thing. The 6666 is synonymous with the merciless endeavour to raise the finest horses and livestock in the world, and ultimately where world-class cowboys are born and made".

Yellowstone is also getting a prequel series, Y: 1883. It will follow the Dutton family as they embark on a journey "west through the Great Plains toward the last bastion of untamed America. It is a stark retelling of Western expansion, and an intense study of one family fleeing poverty to seek a better future in America’s promised land — Montana".

Mayor of Kingstown will follow the McLusky family in Kingstown "where the business of incarceration is the only thriving industry. Tackling themes of systemic racism, corruption and inequality, the series provides a stark look at their attempt to bring order and justice to a town that has neither".

Land Man, also set in West Texas is described as "a modern-day tale of fortune-seeking in the world of oil rigs. The series is an upstairs/downstairs story of roughnecks and wildcat billionaires fueling a boom so big, it’s reshaping our climate, our economy and our geopolitics".

"One of the most successful comedy series of all time - Frasier - is coming back," Nicole Clemens said, exclusively to Paramount+." The new series will have everything you love about the original: Coziness, great writing, and of course a cast led by multi-Emmy winner, Kelsey Grammer. It's nostalgic and contemporary all at once."

In a statement released at the same time, Kelsey Grammer said "having spent over 20 years of my creative life on the Paramount lot both producing shows and performing in several, I'd like to congratulate Paramount+ on its streaming world entry. I gleefully anticipate sharing the next chapter in the continuing journey of Frasier Crane".

The science-fiction drama series HALO based on the hugely-popular video game that would have been on Showtime is abruptly shifting to Paramount+ as an exclusive where it will launch in early-2022.

HALO, filmed in Budapest where Netflix's The Witcher also shot, stars Pablo Schreiber in the role of the iconic Master Chief and Natascha McElhone playing both Dr Catherine Halsey, the creator of the Spartans soldiers, and Cortana, the most advanced AI in human history who could save the human race.

"The upcoming HALO series will weave intimate personal stories with incredible action and a lavishly imagined vision of the future," said David Nevins, Showtime Networks CEO.

"HALO has been in production in Hungary and I can tell you it's visually stunning, totally thrilling; and significantly it offers true 4-quadrant general.audience appeal. We all believe that HALO is going to be a defining show for our super-service. We see this as another example of us marshalling the finest resources of the company in service of Paramount+".

Paramount+ is also doing a The Man Who Fell to Earth series that will star Chiwetel Ejiofor based on the iconic science-fiction novel and film. "It tells the story of a man who arrives on Earth and reveals more about human nature than humans ever could," said Nicole Clemens.

Guilty Party is a dark comedy with Kate Beckinsale as a journalist who gets in over her head when she tries to salvage her career by investigating the story of a young woman in jail for murdering her husband.

BET's The Game is revived with a mix of original cast and new players. It will offer an examination of black culture through the prism of American pro-football.

Ray Donovan is returning, this time in a feature-length movie to wrap up the TV series, and possibly setting up a movie franchise.

Michael C Hall also made a brief appearance during the investors' presentation with the series Dexter that is being revived as a limited series about the serial killer. The revived Dexter will however stay on Showtime.

Tyler Perry is producing All The Queen's Men for the BET+ streaming service - a new drama series revolving around the female owner of a strip club in Atlanta and her group of male strippers.

Trevor Noah working daily - and now weekly South Africa's Trevor Noah hosting The Daily Show on Comedy Central (DStv 122) is expanding his workload and appeared at the investors' presentation to announce that he is doing The Weekly Show With Trevor Noah - an initial 6 episodes that will be available on Paramount+ and that he will also be producing.

In The Weekly Show with Trevor Noah he will talk to people "behind the headlines". Amy Schumer is returning to her original sketch comedy series and will be doing 5 Inside Amy Schumer TV specials for Paramount+. The comedy series Reno: 911! is revived with Reno: 911! The Hunt for QAnon based on the original series.

The MTV animation characters Beavis & Butt-head are coming to Paramount+ in a new and as-yet-untitled feature film, as will a film based on the Comedy Central series Workaholics.

The Nirvana drummer and Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl is making a non-scripted series for Paramount+ based on his mother's book with the 6-episode programme that will tell the stories of the special relationship between successful musicians and their mothers.

Paramount+ will also roll out several new MTV Unplugged specials and is also reviving its music documentary series, Behind the Music.

Kids
Meanwhile the original voice cast of the kids animation series Rugrats is returning for a revival series on Paramount+.

"Rugrats is one of the most iconic cartoons recognized by fans around the globe, and this original version is one we are taking great care and pride in creating for a brand-new audience," said Ramsey Naito, president of Nickelodeon Animation.

ViacomCBS is creating Avatar Studios that will be entirely dedicated to creating content based on the animation series Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra with new series and films that will be created telling these stories further.

Get ready for a Dora the Explorer live-action series based on the iconic character and aimed at an older kids audience aged 6 to 11, as well as an iCarly revival series in which the original cast members Miranda Cosgrove, Nathan Kress and Jerry Trainor join new friends for a look at their characters' present-day lives, adventures and comedic mishaps.

Kamp Koral: SpongeBob’s Under Years is the first-ever SpongeBob SquarePants spinoff series with the new series that will take viewers back to when the iconic characters of Bikini Bottom met for the very first time in a summer camp like no other.

The Fairly OddParents is a live-action revival of the long-running Nickelodeon animation series.

Reality
RuPaul’s Drag Race is getting a singing
competition spinoff at Paramount+ entitled Queen of the Universe in which drag queens from all around the world will compete to see who sings the best.

The Real World reality series is also being revived with the original cast and will now be entitled The Real World Homecoming: New York as a " multi-episode docuseries".

The reality series Road Rules is also being revived in which strangers are dropped in a far-flung location, have to live in motorhomes and complete challenges as they drive from location to location.

The Challenge: All Stars will see former contestants of the reality series Real World and Road Rules return to compete again.

The tattoo reality series Ink Master that was cancelled last year is also being revived and will now continue on Paramount+, with the reality dating series Dating Naked that was cancelled in 2017 that is also being brought back for new episodes for the streaming service.

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ViacomCBS To Rollout Paramount+ Streaming Service This March, Africa Is Not Part Of It's Initial Rollout

CBS All Access will be rebranded as Paramount+ on March 4, 2021 in the United States and Canada as part of its expansion to feature content from ViacomCBS' other brands. Paramount+ will also expand to other markets, starting with Latin America on March 4, 2021, followed by the Nordics on March 25, 2021 and Australia in mid-2021.

According to ViacomCBS CEO, Paramount was "an iconic and storied brand beloved by consumers all over the world, and it is synonymous with quality, integrity and world-class storytelling". From what I remember, CBS hasn't been having much success and sustainability internationally.

On September 15, 2020, it was announced that CBS All Access would rebrand as Paramount+ in early 2021, and that it planned to perform more international expansion under the new name.

This platform joins other streaming platforms that aren't available in South Africa such as Disney+, HBO Max and Discovery+. I wouldn't shocked if Discovery+ launched before any of them.

As most readers noticed due to the domination of streaming services a lot of TV providers are streamlining their entertainment which led to the shutdown of several channels in Africa and the rest of the world.

If Paramount+ manages to rollout in Africa, could it have an affect on its linear channels currently available on DStv and StarTimes (ROA) such as Comedy Central and MTV, and Nicktoons and Nick Jr which is likely the first place they'd look into.

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Unlike The U.S. Counterpart, Paramount Network Still Continues To Rollout In Another Region + It Might Launch In Africa

Hungary became the latest victim in ViacomCBS revamp portfolio. Under these changes the male skewed channel, RTL Spike will convert into the teen based channel TeenNick with The Paramount Channel which was used for movies taking the best of RTL Spike and placing it under the Paramount Network.

Back in September, ViacomCBS in the US announced that Paramount Network will convert into a movie channel next year under the name, Paramount Movies Network. At the time, it was currently unknown whether this would have some effect on the Paramount Networks around the world (guess not).

The likely reason for Paramount Network continuation may have something to do with the upcoming rebrand for the streaming service CBS All Access which is set to be called Paramount+ later in the new year and also rollout in more countries.

It's kind of like what Latin America is experiencing with the FOX branding which is getting replaced with Star. Disney is rolling out a mature version of Disney+ under the banner Star or Disney+ Star.

Now in Africa, Paramount Network doesn't exist yet and certain media outlets have been very curious about the future of the brand here. Even some theorized that it might launch to replace MTV.

My theory would be that Paramount Network launches to replace Comedy Central which is very accessible in Africa. Not only that MTV gets booted with some of its programming moving inbetween Paramount Network, BET and perhaps MTV Base.

Right now, Comedy Central especially BET are very redundant and not tough competitors - they look more like placeholders. Comedy Central case is partly justified since genre based channels can be very repetitive. These two love sharing programs especially with The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air.

MTV is the only decent channel amongst the three and channels like that are usually the ones that get most blows. It wouldn't be a complete loss as the channel didn't gain much recognition and acknowledgement like MTV Base.

This is common in Africa, you had channels such as Animal Planet, Crime & Investigation, BBC First and several others get snatched only for the mediocre and useless batch of channels to stay afloat.

Paramount Network launches in Africa carrying and likely rehash MTV shows such as Teen Mom, Ex On The Beach and Geordie Shore. The twist would be the channel actually replaced Comedy Central so if you want to see The Roast Specials and South Park then this will be your station. Paramount Movies Network in the U.S. will be producing movies maybe that will be added as a bonus constellation.

BET gets a boost with MTV shows such as Lasizwe: Fake It Till You Make It, Have Faith, The Code Trilogies and Love And Hip-Hop mixed with their dry lineup of shows strengthening the channel's offering.

At this point, MTV shifts it's focus towards music perhaps all the music award specials and musician based reality shows will be put on the Afro obsessed channel, MTV Base.

2021 is shaping up to be an interesting year for TV with more companies streamlining their channels and portfolios being reviewed.

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Paramount Network To Rebrand As The Paramount Movie Network, What Does That Mean For International Markets?

Paramount Network is set to rebrand to the Paramount Movie Network as it plots a focus on television movies.

The move is the latest change at ViacomCBS following the merger and comes after the company revealed that its upcoming streaming service is to be called Paramount+.

As part of the move, the network has cancelled a slew of non-scripted titles including Ink Master, Wife Swap and Battle of the Fittest Couples, while other titles including Bar Rescue and Lip Sync Battle will move to other ViacomCBS networks.

Chris McCarthy, President of Entertainment and Youth Brands at ViacomCBS, told Deadline’s sister title Variety, which broke the news,  that it is planning to air 52 original movies a year on the network with one mini-series or scripted series per quarter.

It marks a bright spot for the television movie business, which was once a mainstay of network and cable television but has been seen as the less sexy end of the spectrum in recent years.

Development of these projects will be overseen by former A+E Networks exec Meghan Hooper White, who joined earlier this year as EVP and Head of Original Movies and Limited Series.

Scripted originals that have been cancelled or moved at Paramount Network this year include 68 Whiskey, which was cancelled after one season, Sexy Beast, which was originally given a straight-to-series order before being axed earlier this summer and Darren Star’s Emily in Paris, which was originally ordered at Paramount Network before moving to Netflix.

Yellowstone, the Paramount Network’s hit western starring Kevin Costner, was renewed for a fourth season earlier this year.