“Belt-tightening” is coming, according to Showtime Entertainment president Jana Winograde, who said studio heads will have to find “creative ways” to deal with the global macroeconomic crisis.
According to Winograde, the higher-budget tentpoles will remain, but “we’ll have to find creative ways” to finance lower-budget shows that are “just as compelling but don’t have crashes, UFOs or production sequences.”
“There will be some belt-tightening,” Winograde said, referring to the global cost-of-living crisis that will undoubtedly affect television for years to come. “Nobody wants to reduce the amount of content they’re making, so hopefully people will find creative ways.”
Speaking at Content London, Winograde emphasized the “glory of diversification” at Paramount Global as a whole.
Others have seen the diversification of Showtime’s distribution, in-house programming and various production offerings and realized that this is the way to go in today’s television age,” he said.
“Diversify, diversify, diversify is the basic tenet of economics,” Winograde added. “The more streams of income you have, the better off you are. I think other people who really got into streaming are seeing the glory of multiple streams of income. It makes perfect sense.”
The Wall Street Journal recently reported that Paramount is considering folding yellow vests the Showtime network on the Paramount+ streamer, while SkyShowtime, a joint venture between Peacock owner Comcast and Paramount, is currently being rolled out in several European territories.
For now, Winograde said the “brand remains the same,” adding, “We have incredible resonance with the consumer and people know what [Showtime] it means.”
Winograde talked about Showtime’s upcoming hits, including the Bryan Cranston starrer your honorr, Jessica Chastain/Michael Shannon George and Tammy and South African drama King Shaka
Of the latter, he said: “It’s scary to say it’s going to be ours Black Panther but we feel like people will see it and have that reach and connection. And there’s also a deep family history.”
Showtime is also in the works The Affair with the return of star Ruth Wilson to the network the woman on the wall which is co-produced with the BBC, and spoke about the opportunity for co-productions in all its forms.
Along with David Levien, Winograde is a close lieutenant to outgoing David Nevins, who will step down later this year after 12 years at the helm.
The hit Showtime series launched under Nevins’ tenure includes the Emmy winner Homeland, Ray Donovan, Billions, The Affair, The Circus, Dexter: New Blood, Your Honor, The Chi, Desus & Merothe new breakup yellow vests and the Twin Peaks revival He also inherited shameless after the pilot.
