SHOWTIME review 2024: Everything to know before subscribing

SHOWTIME has quite a variety of content available, including a large number of series, movies and documentaries, as well as sports programming. Now that the standalone service has teamed up with Paramount Plus, subscribers have unlocked even more viewing options. With Paramount Plus with SHOWTIME, you can enjoy shows like “Shameless,” “Billions,” “Yellowjackets” and “The Chi.” 

You can even livestream the latest episodes as they broadcast on the SHOWTIME East and SHOWTIME West networks. Paramount Plus also adds over 40 live TV streaming options like CBS Sports HQ, Black Voices and 90s Sitcoms. SHOWTIME reviews agree that it’s not as comprehensive as other live TV streaming platforms. Still, it is an excellent mix of comedy, drama, sports and kids' programming to appeal to multiple members of your household. Is SHOWTIME worth it? Read our SHOWTIME review to find out. 

SHOWTIME experience

Signing up for Paramount Plus with SHOWTIME is a straightforward process. After entering payment information, you can select up to three shows to help tailor their recommendations. Once on the platform, categories like shows, movies, sports, news and live TV are laid across the screen for easy navigation. A search bar is also available for finding content quickly. 

The cable TV grid design of Paramount Plus' Live TV section makes it stand out from the crowd. Some channels available to you are CBS, CBS News and CBS HQ. Other channels include those dedicated to family programming, movies and reruns, like 80s Sitcoms, 90s Sitcoms, TV Classics and Preschool Corner. Several live soccer broadcasts are also available, including Champions League and Europa League games. As a bonus, it is one of the few streaming services that broadcasts March Madness and Selection Sunday. 

To access SHOWTIME, users can head to the navigation at the top of the screen, where content is grouped according to what's trending, featured, series, documentaries, movies, sports, classics and suggestions based on similar shows.

SHOWTIME content

Subscribers to SHOWTIME have access to over 500 movies, 90-plus series, and live streaming of the SHOWTIME East and SHOWTIME West networks. All new episodes of "Yellowjackets," along with original series like "George and Tammy," "Billions" and "The Chi," are available on SHOWTIME.

With Paramount Plus, you have even more live TV and on-demand content. View kid-friendly shows like "The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron" or your favorite dramas like "Hawaii Five-O." Reality shows like "Ink Master" and "RuPaul's Drag Race" are also available to watch. 

Paramount Plus subscribers can watch CBS's live sports broadcasts. CBS broadcasts NFL games, SEC airs college games and Paramount Plus has popular shows like "Inside the NFL" for NFL fans. The service's sports offerings go beyond just football. Golf fans can watch The Masters, the PGA Tour and the PGA Championship live, and college basketball fans can watch games from the NCAA March Madness tournament. For soccer fans, Paramount Plus's exclusive coverage of every match in the UEFA club competition in English is a major selling point.

The plan includes livestreaming of your local CBS station and the ability to download your shows and movies for offline viewing later. Another plus? The on-demand content library is commercial-free with this package. Except for brief promotions for upcoming Paramount releases, watching your shows and movies on demand will be uninterrupted by commercials.

SHOWTIME DVR

Unfortunately, the Paramount Plus with SHOWTIME plan does not offer DVR storage. However, subscribers can download titles for later viewing. 

SHOWTIME viewing experience and video quality

The viewing experience and the quality of the video can be heavily influenced by a user's internet connection, but on the whole, the viewing experience on Paramount Plus with SHOWTIME is generally pleasant and seamless, with very little buffering or lag time. One downside is that you can’t rewind, fast forward or pause.

SHOWTIME user profiles

You are able to create as many as six user profiles with Paramount Plus, giving each member of your household the ability to personalize their viewing preferences and watch lists. There is also an option called Kids Mode, which restricts user profiles to only contain content that is suitable for children.

SHOWTIME for sports fans

SHOWTIME features a great selection of sporting events, particularly niche sports like live boxing and mixed martial arts. Besides pay-per-view fights, the streaming library includes a wide selection of well-known original films and sports documentaries, such as "Kobe Bryant's Muse," and "Passion Play: Russell Westbrook." Because SHOWTIME is now part of the package that includes Paramount Plus, there is even more content to choose from. As part of a college football premium subscription on CBS, weekly SEC games will also be made available to stream on the network. 

The streamer showcases a range of international soccer leagues, including the AFC Champions League, Argentina's Liga Profesional de Fútbol, Brazil's Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, the National Women's Soccer League, the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League. CBS also airs two of golf's four major tournaments, the Masters and the PGA Championship. 

How does SHOWTIME compare?

SHOWTIME's 30-day free trial is significantly longer than those of competing services. While the service does not have DVR capabilities to record live broadcasts, episodes that have already aired on the network are added to the streaming library so that you can watch them whenever you like. 

You can now easily catch up on any of your missed television shows whenever it is convenient for you. When compared to other streaming services like Hulu, SHOWTIME's selection of available shows is limited. However, with the addition of Paramount Plus, subscribers have access to several hit series and major sporting events like The Masters and the NCAA March Madness tournament. 

How to subscribe to SHOWTIME

To sign up for a SHOWTIME subscription via Paramount Plus, follow these steps:

1. Head to the Paramount Plus website
2. Click “Try It Free.”
3. You will then be prompted to select your plan.
4. Choose Paramount with SHOWTIME.
5. Create a Paramount account by entering your name, email address, and password before clicking "Continue."
6. Enter your payment information, click “Start Paramount Plus,” and begin streaming.
7. Your credit card will be charged each month automatically until you cancel.