Paramount+ With Showtime Streaming Service Gets Renamed ‘Paramount+ Premium'
On June 23, Paramount informed subscribers that the name of its ad-free plan is no longer Paramount+ With Showtime — instead, it's now called Paramount+ Premium. The pricing of the package remains the same: It still costs $12.99 per month or $119.99 per year.
More from Variety
Gary Levine to Retire From Showtime After 40 Years in Programming
'Dexter: Resurrection' Trailer: Dexter Morgan Is Back in Bloody Revival
How to Watch the 2025 UEFA Champions League Final Live Online
The two packages now offered by the company are Paramount+ Premium, which does not have ads except in the bundled live local CBS feeds; and Paramount+ Essential with ads ($7.99 per month).
The company rebranded the ad-free package as Paramount+ With Showtime in the summer of 2023, and said it would phase out the stand-alone Showtime streamer (which shut down in April 2024). Now, after two years, the company is dropping the Showtime name.
'Since we recently introduced a sampling of Showtime programming to the Essential plan, the Premium plan name reflects the broad and diverse offerings across both plan tiers,' the company said in a notice on its customer-support site about the name change. 'Showtime programming remains an important part of Paramount+, and is still prominently represented on the service!'
The name change comes as Warner Bros. Discovery has gone back in the other direction: It's going to reattach the HBO name to its flagship Max streamer, which will this summer become HBO Max again.
Meanwhile, in what may potentially cause some confusion, the name of the Paramount+ With Showtime linear TV network on cable, satellite, or internet TV streaming services (like Hulu with Live TV) will not be changing, according to Paramount.
Paramount said that depending on a customer's device, they 'may not see the plan name change immediately. But rest assured, if you sign up for the Premium plan while it's still Paramount+ With Showtime, your plan benefits will not be impacted!'
Best of Variety
New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week
'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts?
25 Hollywood Legends Who Deserve an Honorary Oscar
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Veteran Boston TV news anchor claims she lost job because she's white
A Boston TV anchor claims in a lawsuit that she was demoted from her job because she's a white woman, alleging she was the supposed victim of a 'DEI agenda' at the Tiffany Network. Katherine Merrill Dunham, better known as Kate Merrill while serving as a longtime anchor for CBS affiliate WBZ-TV, filed a lawsuit against the station's corporate parents CBS and Paramount Global this month, alleging she was booted from the newsroom to appease corporate diversity quotas. The 51-year-old is an Emmy Award-winning broadcaster and is married to former NHL goalie Mike Dunham. She stunned viewers last year when she quit the station without giving viewers an explanation. In her suit, filed in Boston federal court Aug. 5, Merrill alleged that she was targeted by managers who said the morning show was 'too white' and by co-workers who filed 'malicious' race-based complaints against her, per the New York Post. The lawsuit cites exclusive reporting by the New York Post of then-CBS News president Ingrid Ciprian-Matthews, who was accused of using her position of power to promote minorities while sidelining white journalists during her tenure. HANSON: Why DEI was already dying 'THEY'RE NUTS': Kevin O'Leary slams Costco for doubling down on DEI policy Ciprian-Matthews was named as president of CBS News in August 2023 despite being the subject of an internal probe by the company two years earlier over her alleged hiring practices, the Post reported. 'WBZ-TV exploited such policies and took career-ending action against Ms. Merrill to advance a DEI agenda,' according to the complaint. Ciprian-Matthews stepped down last July and Paramount scrapped its DEI programs earlier this year. According to the complaint, the difficulties started when Jason Mikell, a Black co-worker and meteorologist at WBZ, allegedly 'made an inappropriate sexual innuendo about' Merrill 'on air' in February 2024 when he 'implied that Ms. Merrill and her co-anchor had sexual relations at a gazebo.' The lawsuit alleges that despite complaints to supervisors by Merrill's executive producer, Mikell 'was not disciplined for his sexually charged remark about Ms. Merrill.' In April 2024, after she privately texted him to correct a mispronunciation of 'Concord,' Mikell allegedly 'loudly yelled at her on the studio floor,' according to the suit. Merrill claims she quickly complained to human resources; however, a week later, Paramount's HR chief informed her that Mikell and Courtney Cole, a Black anchor hired by WBZ in 2022, had accused her of racial bias. After 20 years at the station, the Emmy-winning broadcaster charges that she was branded a racist, demoted in public and forced into a 'constructive discharge resignation.' RECOMMENDED VIDEO
Fox News
4 hours ago
- Fox News
Ex-Paramount chief hoped Trump lawsuit would force CBS to be more balanced on Israel
The former Paramount chief reportedly saw a silver lining in President Donald Trump's prolonged legal battle with CBS News. Shari Redstone, who was the controlling shareholder of the media giant before recently selling it to Skydance Media as part of an $8 billion merger, was outspoken about her support for Paramount to settle Trump's lawsuit over allegations of "election interference" in the run-up to the 2024 presidential election. Trump and Paramount reached a multimillion-dollar settlement last month. However, it wasn't CBS' political coverage that irked Redstone. It was the network's coverage of the Israel-Hamas war. According to The New York Times, "Maybe, she thought, Mr. Trump's criticism of the news division, and his lawsuit, could be helpful." "We needed more balance," Redstone said in an interview with The New York Times Tuesday, referring to CBS' war coverage. "Part of me thought, maybe Trump could accomplish what I never got done." Redstone, a staunch supporter of Israel, was vocal in her complaints about how slanted she perceived CBS' coverage was against Israel. The Times reported that a major inflection point came when "60 Minutes" aired a segment featuring former State Department officials who resigned in protest over U.S. support for Israel. The segment was viewed as one-sided with an emphasis on allegations of atrocities committed by Israel, while barely mentioning the barbaric Oct. 7 terrorist attack committed by Hamas. Internal objections to the episode led to the appointment of CBS veteran Susan Zirinsky as the network's newly created executive editor of standards, which, in turn, The Times reported, led to "60 Minutes" executive producer Bill Owens' abrupt exit in protest over the increased corporate oversight. Owens' resignation caused further consternation with "60 Minutes" correspondent Scott Pelley lamenting the drama on-air. Redstone also spoke up in defense of "CBS Mornings" co-host Tony Dokoupil, who was facing internal backlash for grilling liberal media darling and anti-Israel author Ta-Nehisi Coates in an October 2024 interview. Dokoupil was scolded by his bosses, who told him the interview didn't meet "editorial standards." Dokoupil also apologized to offended staffers. "I think Tony did a great job with that interview. I think he handled himself and showed the world and modeled what civil discourse is. He showed that there was accountability, that there is a system of checks and balances, and frankly, I was very proud of the work that he did," Redstone said at the time. "As hard as it was, frankly, for me to go against the company, because I love this company, and I believe in it, and I think we have a great, great executive team, I think they made a mistake here." CBS staffers last year were also reportedly instructed not to refer to Jerusalem, Israel's capital, as being in Israel, saying in a memo its status is "disputed" and that it "goes to the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict." Redstone, the daughter of the late billionaire mogul Sumner Redstone, was widely expected to receive a $2.4 billion buyout as a result of the Skydance merger. Paramount is now being run by David Ellison, son of billionaire Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
CSPI Reports Wider Y/Y Net Loss, 18% Revenue Growth in Q3
Shares of CSP Inc. CSPI have risen 1.7% since releasing third-quarter fiscal 2025 results on Aug. 14. Over the same period, the S&P 500 index slipped 0.2%. However, the stock has lost 2% in the past month, contrasting with the broader index's 2.5% growth, reflecting investor caution despite near-term operational progress. Revenue & Earnings Performances CSPI generated revenues of $15.4 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2025, up 18% from $13.1 million in the year-ago period. This growth was fueled primarily by product sales, which climbed 29% to $10.2 million. Service revenues, at $5.3 million, showed only a marginal increase from last year. Despite higher sales, gross profit slipped to $4.5 million from $4.6 million as margins contracted to 29% from 34% due to a greater mix of product revenues and higher component costs. The company posted a net loss of $0.3 million, or 3 cents per share, compared with a net loss of $0.2 million, or 2 cents per share, a year earlier. CSP Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise CSP Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | CSP Inc. Quote Other Key Business Metrics The Technology Solutions (TS) segment led growth, delivering a 20% year-over-year revenue increase, driven by strong demand for cloud services and robust activity in the maritime sector. Notably, the TS division secured a significant Microsoft Azure project for a Florida-based healthcare provider, underscoring CSPI's strength in managed cloud offerings. On the High-Performance Products (HPP) side, momentum was concentrated around the AZT PROTECT cybersecurity solution. New customer deployments included steel, concrete and lumber industries, while international traction expanded with follow-up contracts in South Africa to safeguard cell tower monitoring systems. Management emphasized that reseller partnerships with leading Rockwell Automation distributors are moving from early adoption to revenue acceleration, setting the stage for broader penetration in fiscal 2026. Management Commentary CEO Victor Dellovo highlighted that CSPI is executing a land and expand strategy, wherein initial site deployments of AZT PROTECT often serve as proof points for broader rollouts across enterprise networks. This approach has already yielded promising results, with customers citing measurable operational benefits such as preventing system outages in critical industrial environments. Management noted the potential for five and six-figure recurring contracts as the installed base grows. CFO Gary Levine explained that gross margin pressure was tied to the product mix and higher costs. At the same time, operating expenses increased due to higher sales and marketing expenditures to support the expansion of AZT PROTECT. Importantly, the company ended the quarter with $26.3 million in cash and continued share repurchases, reflecting financial flexibility despite near-term earnings softness. Factors Influencing Headline Numbers While revenue growth was robust, several factors limited the bottom-line performance. First, the stronger weighting toward lower-margin product revenues, as opposed to services, reduced overall profitability. Second, CSPI incurred additional engineering and consulting expenses to enhance AZT PROTECT, including high-level testing and customer-driven feature development. These investments, though pressuring margins, were framed as critical to securing CSPI's competitive positioning in the cybersecurity market. Another factor was modest service revenue growth. While the TS business benefited from cloud adoption, managed services expansion was more gradual, tempering the recurring revenue contribution that typically supports margin stability. View Management did not issue formal numerical guidance but indicated optimism for both the fourth quarter and 2025. Dellovo noted that momentum in both TS and HPP segments persisted into the early fourth quarter, raising confidence that the company can expand both revenues and earnings in fiscal 2025. Executives also pointed to accelerating interest from resellers and international partners, which they believe can drive larger six and seven-figure contract opportunities in the near term. Other Developments In the quarter, CSPI was added to the Russell 3000 Index, broadening its exposure to institutional investors. The company also authorized a quarterly dividend of $0.03 per share, payable Sept. 15, 2025, reflecting a continued commitment to shareholder returns. Additionally, CSPI repurchased more than 19,000 shares for $0.3 million, with 0.3 million shares still available under the 2021 repurchase program. In summary, CSPI delivered strong revenue growth in its fiscal third quarter, led by Technology Solutions and growing traction for AZT PROTECT. Yet, margin pressures and a modest net loss highlighted the costs of scaling its cybersecurity offering and shifting revenue mix. Management remains upbeat about sustained momentum into the fiscal year's final quarter, supported by robust pipelines, reseller enthusiasm and international expansion. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report CSP Inc. (CSPI): Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research Sign in to access your portfolio
