Showtime & Paramount+ snag ‘George & Tammy’ from Paramount Network

George & Tammy

Paramount-owned US cablenet Showtime is to debut Paramount Network’s six-part drama George & Tammy, which tracks the lives of music power couple Tammy Wynette and George Jones.

The show’s first episode, which had been due to premiere only on Paramount Network, will now also air on Showtime on Sunday, December 4 at 21.00 EST.

The remainder of the season will then be exclusive to Showtime, with new episodes becoming available via streaming every Friday before airing on the network on the subsequent Sunday. The series will also become available on Paramount+ outside North America, but it is unclear if this applies in every market where the streamer operates.

The show has been produced by Paramount sibling MTV Entertainment Studios, 101 Studios, Freckle Films, Mad Chance, Brolin Productions, Aunt Sylvia’s Moving Picture Co. and Blank Films Inc.

It was created by Abe Sylvia and directed by John Hillcoat, with the story following how the country music duo made their global impact. Jessica Chastain (The Eyes of Tammy Faye) and Michael Shannon star.

The news comes a day after Paramount Global CEO Bob Bakish discussed plans to “reorganise” Showtime Networks, its associated streamer and Paramount TV Studios into other parts of the company, with “significant cost reductions” expected. Showtime chief David Nevins has already revealed he will be leaving the company later this year.