Comcast and Paramount weigh SkyShowtime shutdown in 22 European markets

A SkyShowtime shutdown is one of the options its owners are reviewing, Reuters reported on 14 September 2026. The board of the streaming joint venture set out the options in a letter to chief executive Monty Sarhan. No decision has been announced.

SkyShowtime grew to 6.2 million subscribers by the end of 2024

Comcast and Paramount Skydance launched the service in 2022. It now runs in 22 European markets, including Spain, Portugal, Denmark and Sweden. Reuters put its subscriber base at 5.3 million at the end of 2023 and 6.2 million a year later.

Growth has not brought profit. According to Reuters, the business still loses money after more than $1 billion of investment and holds about 3% of the market. The board pointed to competitive and challenging conditions.

Sarhan told staff the review “creates uncertainty”

In a message to employees, Sarhan said his priority was to support the team while the owners decide. The Hollywood Reporter and Bloomberg News also reported the review. The owners have not said when a decision will come.

Paramount confirmed the review to Poland’s Press.pl

On 19 September, Paramount confirmed to the Polish trade title Press.pl that closure is among the options. Poland is one of the newer markets: SkyShowtime launched there on 14 February 2023. Company filings cited by Press.pl show its Polish unit made PLN 11.7 million in revenue and PLN 650,000 in net profit in 2025, with 16 staff at year end.

Disney+ and ZDF show how European streaming is shifting

Rivals are changing how they make money. Disney+ now allows ads in every plan, including tiers it once sold as ad-free. Broadcasters are adding their own streaming options too, as ZDF did with more than 15 themed channels on 1 September.

For the owners, the sums are easy to state. More than $1 billion has gone in, the service has 6.2 million subscribers and about 3% of the market. The review will decide whether that is enough to keep a separate European service running.