Showtime Movie Channels
An Australian pay-television movie-channel group that operated across the Foxtel, Optus and Austar platforms.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Showtime Movie Channels was an Australian group of subscription television channels devoted primarily to feature films. The service was created in late 1994 through a partnership involving Australis Media, Columbia TriStar, MCA, Viacom and Tele-Communications Inc. It began broadcasting in 1995 on the Galaxy pay-television service, where it initially showed first-run films as part of the basic package. A related channel, Encore, concentrated on older and classic films and later became Showtime Greats. The service expanded as Australian subscription television developed. Showtime became available through Austar and Foxtel when those platforms launched, and the channels were added to Optus Television in December 2002. In its early period, programming was prepared in Burbank, California, before local operations began in Australia in October 1995. The brand was unrelated to the United States Showtime service, although Showtime Australia licensed the Showtime name and trademark. The channel portfolio changed several times. Encore was renamed Showtime Greats on 1 March 2004, reflecting a move toward more contemporary films. In December 2007, the group introduced showcase as a premium service. Showcase broadened the portfolio beyond mainstream studio releases by carrying independent, arthouse and documentary films, along with selected comedy programming and television series. On 15 November 2009, Showtime Greats was replaced by three genre-oriented services: showtime action, showtime comedy and showtime drama. The original Showtime channel was correspondingly renamed showtime premiere. The wider line-up also included timeshift and high-definition versions of selected services. Showtime was operated by the Premium Movie Partnership, a joint venture whose participating companies included Sony Pictures Entertainment, NBCUniversal, Viacom, News Corporation and Liberty Global. On 11 October 2012, Foxtel announced that it would acquire selected assets of the partnership and take responsibility for managing and producing the Showtime channels from 31 October 2012. This marked a shift from a separately managed studio-backed channel partnership to Foxtel-led operation. In December 2012, Foxtel announced a new branded movie-channel line-up called Foxtel Movies. Most Showtime and Movie Network services were scheduled to be replaced by the new Foxtel-branded channels, while Showcase was excluded from that replacement. The Showtime channel group therefore ceased to operate as a unified branded movie service. During its life, the portfolio included original movie channels, high-definition simulcasts, timeshift services and download-only offerings, and it competed most directly with Movie Network in the Australian pay-TV market.
History
Showtime Movie Channels emerged during the formation of Australia's commercial subscription-television market. The service was established in late 1994 by a consortium associated with Australis Media, Columbia TriStar, MCA, Viacom and Tele-Communications Inc. Broadcasting began in 1995 on the Galaxy platform, initially presenting first-run films within the basic package. Its sister service, Encore, was introduced for older and classic films. Before launch, the allocated channel positions carried trailers and previews; programming was initially prepared in Burbank, California, and local Australian operations commenced in October 1995. As subscription platforms expanded, Showtime became available on Austar and Foxtel and later reached Optus Television in December 2002. The portfolio and brand architecture evolved over time. Encore was renamed Showtime Greats in March 2004 and was repositioned toward more contemporary film programming. In September 2007, Showtime announced showcase, a premium channel that launched on 1 December of that year. Showcase added a more curated editorial identity, with programming centered on independent, arthouse and documentary features, while also carrying some comedy and television series. A substantial restructuring took place on 15 November 2009. Showtime Greats was discontinued as a standalone service and replaced by showtime action, showtime comedy and showtime drama. The main Showtime service was renamed showtime premiere. The group subsequently operated a mixture of original channels, genre services, high-definition simulcasts and timeshift channels. Two additional services, Showtime Family and Showtime Horror, were launched on 1 October 2009 for Foxtel Download, carrying family-oriented and horror films respectively. The service was operated by the Premium Movie Partnership, a joint venture with equal participation by Sony Pictures Entertainment, NBCUniversal, Viacom, News Corporation and Liberty Global. Showtime Australia's use of the Showtime identity was separate from the American Showtime service; the Australian operation licensed the name and trademark. The Australian business also participated in the production of some local films, including Bad Eggs, with other companies. Foxtel announced on 11 October 2012 that it would acquire selected assets of the Premium Movie Partnership and take over management and production of the Showtime channels from 31 October. On 9 December 2012, Foxtel announced a new line-up of Foxtel-branded movie channels called Foxtel Movies. The new structure replaced Showtime and Movie Network services with the exception of Showcase, ending Showtime's role as a unified Australian movie-channel brand. Its principal competitor during operation was Movie Network.
- 2012
Foxtel assumes operational responsibility
[1]Foxtel took over management and production of the channels after acquiring selected Premium Movie Partnership assets.
- 2012
Showtime services replaced by Foxtel Movies
[1]Foxtel announced a new branded movie-channel line-up that replaced most Showtime and Movie Network services, excluding Showcase.
- 2009
Portfolio reorganized by genre
[1]Showtime Greats was replaced by showtime action, showtime comedy and showtime drama, while Showtime became showtime premiere.
- 2007
Showcase launches
[1]Showcase launched as a premium channel on 1 December, adding independent, arthouse and documentary programming to the portfolio.
- 2004
Encore becomes Showtime Greats
[1]The original Encore service was renamed Showtime Greats and moved toward more contemporary film selections.
- 2002
Optus Television distribution begins
[1]The Showtime channels became available on Optus Television in December.
- 1995
Showtime begins broadcasting
[1]Showtime launched on the Galaxy pay-television service with a focus on first-run films; local operations began later in the year.
- 1994
Showtime partnership formed
[1]A partnership involving Australis Media, Columbia TriStar, MCA, Viacom and Tele-Communications Inc. formed the Showtime service in late 1994.
Products and positioning
A premium Australian pay-TV movie service combining first-run studio films with genre-focused channels, curated independent and arthouse cinema, documentaries, and selected television programming.
Mainstream movie channel · 1995
showtime premiere
The principal Showtime movie service, originally branded simply as Showtime. It focused on commercially prominent and first-run film programming and was later joined by genre and premium services. Selected distribution also included Foxtel, Austar, Optus and, for some services, Xbox 360 IPTV.
Premium curated television channel · 2007
showcase
A premium channel launched in 2007 with an editorial focus on independent, arthouse and documentary films. It also carried some comedy programming and television series. Showcase was excluded from Foxtel's announced replacement of most Showtime and Movie Network services.
Genre movie channel · 2009
showtime action
An action-oriented service introduced in the 2009 restructuring that replaced Showtime Greats. It formed part of the genre-based Showtime line-up.
Genre movie channel · 2009
showtime comedy
A comedy-focused channel introduced alongside showtime action and showtime drama when Showtime Greats was discontinued.
Genre movie channel · 2009
showtime drama
A drama-focused service created in the 2009 channel reorganization as part of the replacement for Showtime Greats.
Download-only movie channel · 2009
Showtime Family
A Foxtel Download-exclusive channel offering family-friendly movies.
Download-only movie channel · 2009
Showtime Horror
A Foxtel Download-exclusive channel carrying classic and modern horror films.
Brand decisions
2012
Foxtel acquires selected partnership assetsM&ABackground
The Premium Movie Partnership had operated the Showtime channel group through a multi-company joint venture.
Action taken
Foxtel acquired selected assets and assumed management and production responsibility from 31 October 2012.
Aftermath
Foxtel subsequently announced the Foxtel Movies line-up, replacing most Showtime services while excluding Showcase.
2009
Replace Showtime Greats with genre channelsGeneration changeBackground
Showtime reorganized its portfolio to provide more distinct programming identities.
Action taken
Showtime Greats was replaced by showtime action, showtime comedy and showtime drama, and the original Showtime channel was renamed showtime premiere.
Aftermath
The portfolio adopted a broader mix of genre, premium, high-definition and timeshift services.
2004
Reposition Encore as Showtime GreatsStrategyBackground
The earlier Encore channel had originally emphasized older and classic movies.
Action taken
The service was renamed Showtime Greats and shifted toward more contemporary film programming.
Aftermath
The channel remained part of the Showtime portfolio until the 2009 genre-based restructuring.
Sources1 sources
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