Showtime builds Middle East presence

Digital pay-TV network Showtime is extending its operations in the Middle East with four timeshift spin-offs of its family entertainment channels, bringing its total bouquet in the region to 50.

Showtime is set to launch Paramount +2, TV Land +2, The Movie Channel +1 and Discovery +1. There are also plans to extend services on Discovery Civilisation and kids' network Nickelodeon from 12 hours to 24 hours a day.

{We have taken four of the most popular channels on the network and time-shifted them by either one or two hours later than the original channel,{ said Showtime president and chief executive Peter Einstein.

{This means that viewers have even greater choice and a greater opportunity to see the array of programming available across the network, and now have the opportunity to choose between two different prime time viewing periods.

In January, Showtime debuted an all-Arabic movie channel, Al Shasha, after teaming up with Cairo-based Founoon Films. The 24-hour service is available free to Movies Plus and Total Plus subscribers.

In the Middle East, Showtime is a joint venture between Kuwait Projects Company (Holding) and Viacom Inc.