AT&T U-verse Rides Into 'Showtime Anytime' Corral

AT&T is the first provider to offer TV subscribers access to Showtime Networks' TV Everywhere website, ShowtimeAnytime.com, which hosts about 400 hours of original series, movies and other programming.

Comcast began offering Showtime's authenticated content online last year. However, Comcast provides the content only via its own XfinityTV.com portal.

AT&T U-verse TV subscribers have been able to log in to ShowtimeAnytime.com since Sept. 16, a soft-launch before the telco and Showtime officially begin promoting the service. Showtime expects to have "Showtime Anytime" apps for smartphones and tablets available within the next few weeks.

Programming available via Showtime Anytime includes full episodes of original series including Dexter, Weeds, The Big C, Californication, Nurse Jackie, The Real L Word, Secret Diary of a Call Girl and United States of Tara, as well as movies, sports, comedy specials and documentaries.

Showtime trails rival HBO on the TV Everywhere front. HBO has inked pacts for HBO Go with Comcast, DirecTV, Dish Network, Cox Communications, Charter Communciations, Suddenlink Communications, Verizon FiOS TV, AT&T U-verse, RCN and WideOpenWest.

Starz Entertainment provides online content to Starz subscribers through the respective video portals of Comcast and Dish Network.