Star India’s over-the-top (OTT) platform Hotstar and the CBS Corporation have entered into a content licensing and trademark agreement that will pave the way for Showtime’s entry in India. The agreement will introduce the Showtime brand to India for the first time and bring a roster of award-winning programming from the brand to the territory.
Paid subscribers of Hotstar Premium in India will now have access to Showtime’s future series, including its new comedy 'Smilf' as well as the new limited series of 'Escape At Dannemora', starring Benicio Del Toro and Patricia Arquette and Paul Dano. Subscribers will also be able to watch the reboot of the popular series 'Twin Peaks'. Also available to Hotstar Premium subscribers are hundreds of hours of critically-acclaimed series, including 'The Affair', 'Billions', 'Ray Donovan' and the recently premiered, 'I’m Dying Up Here'.
Ajit Mohan, CEO, Hotstar said: “Over the last year, we have established Hotstar Premium as the most exciting destination for American TV shows and movies in India. We have been continuously raising the bar for what is already the best streaming service for an Indian audience interested in international stories. The deal with CBS is in line with our strategy of bringing the best of new shows and movies from around the world to our Premium subscribers. Today, Showtime joins an exciting slate on Hotstar. It is clear that there is no equivalent service like this in India, or, frankly, anywhere in the world. We are clear that we are building Hotstar Premium as the most compelling subscription service that will showcase the best story tellers from around the world.”
Before this, CBS content was available in India through the network’s tie-up with Anil Ambani’s ‘BIG’ brand of channels. The two had joined hands to launch the Big CBS Prime and the Big CBS Spark in 2010-11. However, the joint venture was later dissolved with both the channels being shut down in 2014.
“We are thrilled to be partnering with Hotstar to bring critically-acclaimed programming from Showtime to Indian audiences,” said Armando Nuñez, President and CEO, CBS Studios International. “Thanks to this agreement and other partnerships with top platforms around the world, the footprint of the Showtime brand and programming continues to expand in the global marketplace.”
Similar agreements for streaming Showtime’s content have been announced with FOX Networks Group in Asia, Canal+ Group in France, along with Sky UK, Germany and Italy, Bell Canada, Stan Australia, Movistar Spain and other output partners around the world.