Four shows have been canceled at Paramount+ and are set to be removed from the streaming service entirely.
Why are these shows being removed from Paramount+?
A report from The Hollywood Reporter revealed that Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies, Star Trek: Prodigy, Queen of the Universe, and The Game have been canceled and will be taken off of the platform next week.
“The Paramount+ series Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies, Star Trek: Prodigy, Queen of the Universe and The Game have completed their runs on Paramount+ and will not be returning to the service,” a statement from a Paramount+ spokesperson said. “We want to extend our thanks to our tremendously talented cast and crew and our producing partners for their passionate work and dedication on these programs, and we wish them all the best on their future endeavors.”
The reasoning for the removal is tax write-offs, as Paramount is joining Disney+ and HBO in the practice of taking underperforming series off their streaming services for tax purposes.
“In the unified Paramount+ with Showtime plan, the Showtime portfolio of edgy, critically acclaimed programming will complement the broad and popular Paramount+ library in a seamless offering that appeals to everyone, enables more discovery between the brands and builds overall viewership,” said a Paramount+ spokesperson in a statement to the outlet. “As we prepare to combine Paramount+ and Showtime later this month in the U.S., we are refining our content offering to deliver the best streaming experience for subscribers.
“This is consistent with our content strategy since launch and across our business, which ensures we make smart, efficient choices, informed by audience data and insights. We are removing select programming as we look to optimize Showtime’s robust slate of premium originals.”