How to Watch Showtime on Your LG Smart TV: The Ultimate Guide
Introduction
Are you a fan of Showtime‘s award-winning original series like Yellowjackets, Billions, and Dexter: New Blood? Do you enjoy the network‘s thought-provoking documentaries, stand-up comedy specials, and curated film library? If you own an LG smart TV, you may be wondering how to access all this great Showtime content from the comfort of your couch.
The process of watching Showtime on an LG TV used to be straightforward – simply download the Showtime app and log in with your cable provider or streaming subscription. However, things have changed in 2023 with Showtime being absorbed into the Paramount+ streaming service. Don‘t worry though, we‘ll walk you through exactly what you need to do to keep up with your favorite Showtime programming on your LG smart TV. Let‘s dive in!
The Paramount+ Transition Explained
In late 2022, Paramount Global made the decision to streamline its direct-to-consumer offering by merging Showtime into its flagship Paramount+ streaming service. This transition is being gradually rolled out through 2023, with Showtime content and branding being fully integrated into Paramount+ by 2024.
What does this mean for Showtime subscribers? Essentially, there is no longer a standalone Showtime streaming app or subscription plan. To access Showtime content, you now need to subscribe to Paramount+ and opt for the more expensive $11.99 per month "Paramount+ with Showtime" plan. The cheaper $5.99/month "Essential" Paramount+ plan does not include Showtime programming.
This change may cause some confusion for Showtime fans in the short term. However, Paramount is hoping the move will allow it to better compete with rival streamers like Netflix, HBO Max, and Disney+ by consolidating its premium offerings into a single service. For now, the Showtime linear TV channels will continue to exist separately.
Downloading Paramount+ on LG webOS TVs
So how do you actually get the Paramount+ app on your LG smart TV to start watching Showtime shows and movies? Fortunately, LG‘s webOS operating system supports a wide range of third-party apps alongside the pre-installed ones.
To download Paramount+, first make sure your LG TV is connected to the internet via Wi-Fi or Ethernet. Then, follow these simple steps:
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Press the Home button on your LG TV remote to go to the main webOS home screen.
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Navigate to the LG Content Store, which is essentially LG‘s app store. You can find it in the ribbon along the bottom of the screen.
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Once in the LG Content Store, use the search icon (magnifying glass) in the upper right to search for "Paramount+" or "Paramount Plus."
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Select the official Paramount+ app, which has a blue icon with the trademark Paramount mountain logo. Click "Install" to download the app to your TV.
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Once installed, the Paramount+ app will appear on your LG TV‘s home screen. Open it and log in using your Paramount+ account credentials.
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After logging in, you can access the full library of Showtime content by going to the "Brands" section of the Paramount+ app and selecting the Showtime hub.
That‘s it! You‘re now ready to binge the latest season of Billions or catch up on classic Showtime series. Keep in mind you‘ll need an active Paramount+ with Showtime subscription to actually stream the shows and movies.
If you don‘t currently have a Paramount+ subscription, you can sign up directly through the app on your LG TV or by visiting the Paramount+ website. Paramount+ offers a 7-day free trial for new subscribers, so you can test out the service before committing to a monthly plan.
It‘s worth noting that not all LG TV models support downloading new apps. Generally, LG smart TVs released in 2016 or later will work with the Paramount+ app. If you have an older webOS TV, you may need to use a streaming device like a Roku or Apple TV to watch Paramount+.
The Showtime Experience on Paramount+
Now that you have Paramount+ installed on your LG TV, what can you expect from the Showtime experience? Essentially, you‘ll have access to the same great Showtime content, just within the Paramount+ app interface.
This includes on-demand access to Showtime‘s deep library of original series, with full seasons available to binge at your leisure. Some popular titles include:
- Yellowjackets: A thriller about a girl‘s soccer team fighting for survival after a plane crash
- Billions: A financial drama starring Paul Giamatti
- The Chi: A coming-of-age story set in Chicago‘s South Side
- Dexter: New Blood: A revival of the hit serial killer series
- Shameless: A dark comedy about a dysfunctional family
- Homeland: An espionage thriller led by Claire Danes
You can also watch Showtime‘s acclaimed documentaries like The Lincoln Project, Couple‘s Therapy, and Supervillain: The Making of Tekashi 6ix9ine. The Showtime hub in Paramount+ organizes content by categories like genre, recency, and popularity to help you find something to watch.
Beyond on-demand content, a Paramount+ with Showtime subscription gives you access to live feeds of Showtime East and West, so you can watch new episodes, movies, and specials as they premiere. Live TV is a big differentiator for Paramount+ compared to Netflix and some other on-demand focused services.
Another selling point of watching Showtime within Paramount+ is the high streaming quality. Most on-demand titles are available to stream in up to 4K resolution with HDR, assuming you have a compatible 4K LG TV. The Paramount+ app supports several HDR formats including Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HDR10+. You will need a fast internet connection to access 4K HDR streams – at least 25 Mbps download speed is recommended.
Pros and Cons of the New Showtime Experience
As with any major change to a popular service, Showtime‘s transition to Paramount+ has its share of pros and cons for LG smart TV users. Here‘s a quick rundown:
Pros:
- Consolidates Showtime and Paramount+ content into a single app for one-stop streaming
- Offers a more budget-friendly way to get Showtime compared to a traditional cable subscription
- Robust content discovery features and personalized recommendations
- High streaming quality up to 4K HDR
- Live TV feeds of Showtime East/West included
- 7-day free trial for new Paramount+ subscribers
Cons:
- No longer a standalone Showtime streaming app, which may confuse some users
- Showtime content only available with pricier $11.99/month Paramount+ plan
- Users need to navigate to Showtime hub within Paramount+ interface
- Some obscure older Showtime titles may not make the jump to Paramount+
- Paramount+ has a smaller content library compared to rivals like HBO Max
- Requires 2016 or newer LG smart TV to access Paramount+ app
Overall, if you‘re a die-hard Showtime fan, the transition to Paramount+ should be a net positive. You still get access to all the great Showtime original programming, just with the bonus of Paramount+ titles as well. The main downside is needing to pay for a pricier subscription tier and potentially navigating a new app interface.
Conclusion
Watching your favorite Showtime series and movies on an LG smart TV is still very much possible in 2023, it just requires a couple extra steps now that Showtime has been absorbed into Paramount+. To recap:
- Make sure you have a 2016 or newer LG smart TV with an internet connection
- Download the Paramount+ app from the LG Content Store
- Subscribe to the Paramount+ with Showtime plan for $11.99/month
- Log in to the Paramount+ app and head to the Showtime hub to start streaming
While it may take some getting used to, the new Showtime experience within Paramount+ opens up a wider world of premium video content to enjoy on your LG TV. And with a free 7-day trial for new subscribers, there‘s no reason not to give it a shot. Happy streaming!
