Showtime on Amazon only $8.99

[mlenger]

showtime is only $ 8.99 a month vs Apple Tv's 10.99.
Does not to seem a promotional deal. Why pay $2 more?
I know you need a Prime subscription but still...

 

[Kurri]

showtime is only $ 8.99 a month vs Apple Tv's 10.99.
Does not to seem a promotional deal. Why pay $2 more?
I know you need a Prime subscription but still...

Well you do need a Prime subscription so...

 

[interfreak]

I know you need a Prime subscription but still...

There's your answer..

 

[Poontaco]

It's also $8.99 on Hulu.
That's how bundle pricing works.

 

[Zimmy68]

Dumb/obvious question. If I subscribe to Showtime on Amazon, I can watch Showtime Anywhere on the Apple TV, correct?

 

[Poontaco]

Dumb/obvious question. If I subscribe to Showtime on Amazon, I can watch Showtime Anywhere on the Apple TV, correct?

My guess would be no.
I have Showtime through Hulu, but I can't log in with the Showtime app. I have to use the Hulu app.

 

[mlenger]

Dumb/obvious question. If I subscribe to Showtime on Amazon, I can watch Showtime Anywhere on the Apple TV, correct?

No that's a interesting question. Amazon confirmed a Amazon Video app is coming to Apple TV in the next weeks. So how would that work than?

 

[d21mike]

My guess would be no.
I have Showtime through Hulu, but I can't log in with the Showtime app. I have to use the Hulu app.

My understanding is that you loose Live TV on Showtime (which I never use). But also you loose the SIRI Integrated Search that would normally include Showtime. However, I think you get the benefit of an integrated Hulu Favorites/Queue (they dropped the Watchlist for a while which is terrible). With the standalone app I can only register 5 devices at a time for Showtime which is very limited. Is that the same when under Hulu? Do you have to register on Showtime Site to manage your devices? Am I missing anything else?

 

[benjitek]

Dumb/obvious question. If I subscribe to Showtime on Amazon, I can watch Showtime Anywhere on the Apple TV, correct?

Not a dumb question at all, and comes as a surprise to many users when they find out these new bundled options don't include access to the individual service apps. SlingTV is another example -- subscribing to any of their bundles doesn't give you access to the included channels outside of the SlingTV app as there is no SlingTV (or Amazon or Hulu) service provider login option in TV-network apps or at their websites.

Another annoyance is the delayed programming availability. For example, with a Showtime Anywhere subscription you can watch that new episode of Homeland the moment it begins airing live -- with a bundled add-on, you have to wait until it's made available, something that varies by service, and even then is inconsistent.

If you have an iOS device, Amazon Video has native AirPlay support that works quite well. The iOS app was recently updated and now includes Amazon's X-Ray function which is great, turns your iOS device into a 2nd screen that displays the current scene you're AirPlaying along with applicable IMDB info. If the same video were being watched with a native ATV4 app, that info would partially cover the screen, or pause the video if you selected something for additional info. X-Ray isn't available for add-ons though, regardless of platform.

Can't help but wonder how many videos that would once have been included with Prime will now be available only in one of the add-ons. I suspect that may have something to do with HBO being late to the Prime-Party as much of their on-demand content is already included with Prime -- once they become an add-on, I'll bet their current Prime content will be gone, likely when their current agreement with Amazon expires. Prime used to be a great way to watch British TV shows -- but I've a feeling they will now be tucked away in the AcornTV add-on. Oddly enough, subscribing to AcornTV at their website has the same subscription rate as going through Amazon Prime Instant Video. Regardless, $4.99 is very reasonable considering how huge and varied their library is.

 

[chuyn]

My understanding is that you loose Live TV on Showtime (which I never use). But also you loose the SIRI Integrated Search that would normally include Showtime. However, I think you get the benefit of an integrated Hulu Favorites/Queue (they dropped the Watchlist for a while which is terrible). With the standalone app I can only register 5 devices at a time for Showtime which is very limited. Is that the same when under Hulu? Do you have to register on Showtime Site to manage your devices? Am I missing anything else?

When it's through Hulu, Siri search will still show results from Showtime, you just can't click on the button to automatically open it up in the Showtime app. You'll have to go into Hulu on your own, just knowing now that the show is available there. Not ideal, but at least Showtime shows still show up.

 

[netnothing]

Not a dumb question at all, and comes as a surprise to many users when they find out these new bundled options don't include access to the individual service apps. SlingTV is another example -- subscribing to any of their bundles doesn't give you access to the included channels outside of the SlingTV app as there is no SlingTV (or Amazon or Hulu) service provider login option in TV-network apps or at their websites.

Another annoyance is the delayed programming availability. For example, with a Showtime Anywhere subscription you can watch that new episode of Homeland the moment it begins airing live -- with a bundled add-on, you have to wait until it's made available, something that varies by service, and even then is inconsistent.

If you have an iOS device, Amazon Video has native AirPlay support that works quite well. The iOS app was recently updated and now includes Amazon's X-Ray function which is great, turns your iOS device into a 2nd screen that displays the current scene you're AirPlaying along with applicable IMDB info. If the same video were being watched with a native ATV4 app, that info would partially cover the screen, or pause the video if you selected something for additional info. X-Ray isn't available for add-ons though, regardless of platform.

Can't help but wonder how many videos that would once have been included with Prime will now be available only in one of the add-ons. I suspect that may have something to do with HBO being late to the Prime-Party as much of their on-demand content is already included with Prime -- once they become an add-on, I'll bet their current Prime content will be gone, likely when their current agreement with Amazon expires. Prime used to be a great way to watch British TV shows -- but I've a feeling they will now be tucked away in the AcornTV add-on. Oddly enough, subscribing to AcornTV at their website has the same subscription rate as going through Amazon Prime Instant Video. Regardless, $4.99 is very reasonable considering how huge and varied their library is.

Wonder why the Variety article is saying you can login to the standalone apps:
http://variety.com/2015/digital/news/amazon-video-subscriptions-showtime-starz-prime-1201656131/

-Kevin

 

[JBaby]

I hope Starz comes to Hulu!

 

[Menel]

No that's a interesting question. Amazon confirmed a Amazon Video app is coming to Apple TV in the next weeks. So how would that work than?

They have NOT.
Random twitter dude posted a picture of a supposed CS person claiming that Amazon engineering is working on it.
1. does random twitter dude have any merit?
2. did he photoshop it
3. Random CS people know nothing of business plans.

 

[mattopotamus]

Dumb/obvious question. If I subscribe to Showtime on Amazon, I can watch Showtime Anywhere on the Apple TV, correct?

There is just a section in the amazon app that is called "add on subscriptions". It is part of the amazon prime app only.

 

[Poontaco]

According to the Variety article linked above, you CAN use the stand-alone Showtime app if you've subscribed through Amazon.
From experience, I know it does not work the same way with Hulu though.

 

[madsci954]

showtime is only $ 8.99 a month vs Apple Tv's 10.99.
Does not to seem a promotional deal. Why pay $2 more?
I know you need a Prime subscription but still...

If you factor in Prime, it's 17.24 a month, vs 10.99. So if you're already a Prime subscriber, that would be a good extra. If you aren't, then go through Apple.

 

[bpeeps]

If you factor in Prime, it's 17.24 a month, vs 10.99. So if you're already a Prime subscriber, that would be a good extra. If you aren't, then go through Apple.

That's a ridiculous price add on considering many people already pay for Prime for its benefits. 2 dollars off of Showtime is just a bonus.

 

[err404]

Showtime sets the pricing on AppleTV. They may be increasing the cost to offset Apple's 30% cut.
I don't know what, if any, is charged by Amazon.

 

[nburwell]

Dumb/obvious question. If I subscribe to Showtime on Amazon, I can watch Showtime Anywhere on the Apple TV, correct?

You would only be able to access Showtime via Amazon. My girlfriend and I have the Showtime add on via our Hulu subscription, but we do not have access to the standalone Showtime app.

 

[mattopotamus]

Showtime sets the pricing on AppleTV. They may be increasing the cost to offset Apple's 30% cut.
I don't know what, if any, is charged by Amazon.

That makes complete sense, and you are probably right.

The fact you have to have prime means Amazon is taking little if anything.

 

[betabeta]

If, and it's still a big if, Amazon makes a video app for Apple TV, and they do it correctly including universal search, I would buy Showtime through Amazon for sure.

If I can't use universal search, it isn't worth the switch to save a few dollars.

 

[benjitek]

...Wonder why the Variety article is saying you can login to the standalone apps...

No idea, have you been able to do so? Either the author didn't research the material, or this aspect of the service hasn't been implemented. I've subscribed to AcornTV and Starz and there's no way to use my Amazon login at either site, or within their corresponding iOS apps. It's also not how Amazon explains things on their support pages; subscriptions require Amazon Video for viewing:

Movies and TV programming included with the subscription are then available to watch on demand, on all compatible Amazon Video devices...

Also of interest, and something I was unaware of, is that they offer 'live' viewing for some subscriptions -- at this time two channels have this functionality. Unfortunately, it only works with a desktop browser (but not Safari), not within the Amazon Video apps or from a mobile browser -- so no native AirPlay support. It looks OK though with AirPlay Screen Mirroring:

Showtime and Starz subscriptions also include live streaming, which gives you the option to watch programming on the Amazon Video website the same time as it is broadcast on TV.

You can live stream from the Amazon Video website on desktop computer browsers that support our HTML5 web player (Chrome, Internet Explorer 11 on Windows 8.1+, Microsoft Edge, and Opera). For more information about the HTML5 player and supported browsers, go to System Requirements for Streaming on Your Computer.

Subscriptions include a Watch Live video category whenever live streaming is available. This section typically updates to show what's cuurenlty on the air for each of the subscription's featured TV channels.

Click the Play icon to start a live stream in the Amazon Video web player. Once playback starts, you can pause the stream, jump forward and back, or rewind up to 60 minutes (for eligible titles).

Open the Options menu in the upper right corner of the player window for additional playback controls, including closed captions and audio settings. If you've paused playback or used rewind, you may also see an option to Jump to live.