sho.com
Do you know about Showtime? It's a streaming service that is slightly less popular than Netflix and Hulu, but many people think it's worth it because of the features it offers. Let's take a look at what those features are, and see if they're good enough to make the subscription worthwhile.
How it Started
Showtime was founded in 1976. It was a premium television network that included a wide variety of programming, including theater-released films, original TV series, sports events, and stand-up comedy. In the early 2000s, they launched Showtime on Demand, mostly so they could compete with HBO. In 2010, they got with the times and came out with Showtime Anytime, the first iteration of their online streaming service. Five years later, they released Showtime, the standalone service that has since become a force to be reckoned with in the premium-streaming arena.
How it Works
If you only have a Showtime subscription through the app or website, then you can watch all of your shows and movies on the app or website, no matter where they are in your TV lineup. However, if you want to watch shows and movies on Hulu or Netflix with your Showtime subscription, you need to upgrade to a traditional Showtime subscription.
What?s Included
So, are you curious as to what type of content Showtime has to offer, and if it can compete with some of the bigger players? Well, rather than boasting a huge library like Netflix, Hulu, and Prime Video, Showtime focuses more on developing high-quality original programming. The philosophy here is definitely quality over quantity. The size of the library is minute compared to the industry giants. However, what that means is that there's less junk. Let's take a look at some of the series that are associated with Showtime. Ready? - Shameless - Ray Donovan - Twin Peaks - Dexter - Who Is America? - Kidding - Episodes - Homeland
The library has a vast movie and TV selection, as well as varied sports programming. You can browse the library here and download anything for offline use. There are never commercials to interrupt your favorite show.
So, as far as content goes, Showtime excels at producing quality original series. It also offers a small selection of movies and sports programming (including live sports matches). Those expecting a centralized entertainment hub like Netflix are going to be sorely disappointed. Showtime is a premium television network that only releases content that is aligned with their brand's image. In other words, they're picky.
Rather than spending hours scrolling through an enormous library, with Showtime, what you see is what you get - without looking through the digital murk to find something good. This is good because there are few things more frustrating than sitting down to enjoy some downtime in front of the TV, only to be paralyzed by the endless possibilities on Netflix or Hulu.
If you're interested in streaming services that focus on leaving little to the imagination, [HBO Go]((link this to our HBO Go review when it's published) is a great option. However, it may not be for everyone, so be sure to read up on its downsides before making a decision.
Design of the Website
The pagination is easy to navigate and the site loads quickly.
I think Showtime's landing page is simple and sleek. It's straightforward and clean, which makes it user-friendly. There are lots of similarities between Showtime and Netflix, but with less clutter and no annoying auto-play previews overlaying the landing page. A single drop-down menu displays all the subcategories you'd want: series, movies, sports, comedy, documentaries, etc. The pagination is easy to navigate and the site loads quickly.
Mobile Experience
Recently, users have raised concerns about the terms and conditions agreement you must consent to when downloading Showtime Anytime. The agreement gives Showtime rights over your user data that many believe is excessive or unnecessary. I don't know exactly what Showtime does with that data, but I think it's important you're aware of this.
Showtime Anytime is also kind of a pain in the ass when it comes to integration and performance. This is especially true when it comes to integrating it with a Smart TV. The process is needlessly complicated, and it may take multiple tries to do it successfully. Even when you do link them, the trouble isn't over. The app frequently requires you to log in again, even if you're sure that you've saved your credentials. While this is a small inconvenience rather than a glaring flaw, it's annoying as hell, and should be fixed ASAP.
The standard Showtime app for cable subscribers has some issues, such as low download speeds and buffering more often than on other streaming services. However, the interface is fairly easy to navigate, and when things are running smoothly, I have no issues.
Prime Video?s Strengths
So, now that I have given Showtime a brief overview, let?s recap its strengths. I really like the programming that this network offers, and although some prefer HBO, I am going to stick by my guns and side with Showtime. Shows like Kidding, Who is America?, Shameless and Homeland are unique enough to win my nod of approval. Combined with commercial-free, downloadable content, an intuitive web client, and some decent live programming options, there is a lot to like here.
Prime Video?s Weaknesses
Even though Showtime may not be the most popular streaming service out there, there is a reason it isn't the most popular. The library is relatively small, and if you don't like Showtime's original series, you'll have trouble finding anything to watch on the service's movies, documentaries, or comedy specials. Plus, at $10.99/month it's not cheap, and the service's mobile apps make it difficult to use. There are some improvements that could be made, however
Suggestions
The division between Showtime Anytime and Showtime (the standalone service) makes it difficult for users to find what they're looking for and makes it difficult for the company to keep up with updates and troubleshooting. I think that having a single app would make it easier for users to find what they're looking for and would allow the company to devote more resources to upgrading and improving Showtime.
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