Showtime today will provide its subscribers with an early look of the new season of The Affair on its Showtime On Demand and Showtime Anytime digital offerings, said network officials.

The series’ first episode, which will debut on Nov. 20 on the linear channel, will also be available on YouTube and SHO.com, according to the network.

In addition, the second episode of the series -- which stars Dominic West, Ruth Wilson and Maura Tierney -- will be available on Showtime Anytime and stand-alone OTT service Showtime immediately after the show’s linear premiere, and on Showtime On Demand at midnight, said the network.

Showtime Networks said it has promoted Julia Veale to executive vice president, business, product development and management, citing her leadership in the rollouts of the Showtime streaming service and the Showtime Anytime authenticated viewing platform. The former senior vice president continues to report to Tom Christie, Showtime's recently promoted chief operating officer, and to be responsible for product strategy, development and management for Showtime subscription services across distribution platforms, technologies and devices. Before her work with the in-house product team on the streaming and TV-everywhere rollouts, Veale was a key player in the development of SNI on-demand services, HD multiplex channels and interactive TV. She also was an important part of negotiations with Internet partners on the standalone streaming service and with the Smithsonian Institution on creating Showtime Networks. 

“Julia’s unique combination of talents, which blend long-term strategic vision with an uncompromising attention to detail, has helped guide the company’s business and product development efforts for over a decade,” Christie said in a release. “Under Julia’s leadership, Showtime has demonstrated a near flawless introduction of products starting from subscription video on demand many years ago, to the Showtime Anytime TV Everywhere launch, and of course most recently the Showtime stand-alone streaming service on key internet platforms.”

Dish Network has become the latest major MVPD to open access to Showtime Anytime, Showtime Networks’ authenticated TV Everywhere service that features a late of on-demand fare and access to Showtime’s live East and West coast feeds.

Dish and Showtime opened access to the app on Tuesday (March 3). That comes roughly three months after Dish and CBS announced a retransmission deal that provided Dish with the rights for CBS, CBS Sports Network, Smithsonian Channel, TVGN, and Showtime, including Showtime’s TVE and video-on-demand services. 

Credentialed Dish subs can stream live feeds and VOD fare from Showtime on the Web at showtimeanytime.com or via the Showtime Anytime app on iOS and Android devices, the Apple TV, Roku platform, Xbox One, Xbox 360, and Amazon Fire TV box and Fire TV Stick. Showtime Anytime is also optimized to work with the Google Chromecast.

Additionally, Showtime VOD programming will soon become available on broadband-connected Dish set-top boxes, the DishAnywhere.com site and the DISH Anywhere app for tablets and smartphones, the companies said.

Following “several months” of negotiations, Roku said it has struck an agreement that allows Comcast subs to access the authenticated HBO GO and Showtime Anytime apps via the Roku platform.

That’s according to a document Roku filed with the FCC on Monday (Dec. 15) that Re/code was first to spot. 

“Roku is pleased to inform the Commission that effective November 25, 2014, Roku and Comcast entered an agreement pursuant to which Comcast has, among other things, agreed to authenticate the HBO GO and Showtime Anytime Apps on Roku video streaming devices for Comcast’s subscribers whose subscriptions entitle them to access the content and services made available through such apps,” Jonathan Kanter, a lawyer with Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP representing Roku, wrote.

The letter, dated Monday, Dec. 15., comes amid Comcast’s proposed acquisition of Time Warner Cable (which does allow authentication on Roku) and as the FCC tries to move ahead on new network neutrality rules.

Roku’s letter did not elaborate on what “other things” are included in the agreement or reveal precisely when Comcast will allow authorized customers to access HBO GO and Showtime Anytime via the Roku platform.

That Comcast is to allow authentication on Roku isn’t a huge surprise. Speaking at a Multichannel News/B&C event in March, Matt Strauss, Comcast Cable's SVP and GM of video services, said the cable operator had begun to test authentication with “certain programmers” on the Roku platform as it looked to open up new avenues for its TV Everywhere strategy.

Authentication on Roku gives Comcast a direct line into a popular streaming platform – Roku has shipped more than 10 million devices in the U.S. so far.

Update: Strauss posted a blog item about the arrangement with Roku Tuesday morning, confirming that credentialed Comcast customers can now access HBO GO and Showtime Anytime on Roku players and integrated Roku TVs. “With the addition of these channels on Roku, we now authenticate more than 90 network apps on up to 17 different devices,” Strauss noted. “And those numbers will continue to grow as new technologies and platforms emerge.” 

Expect the Amazon Fire TV to join that list in the coming weeks. Amazon announced Monday that it now supports HBO GO on its Fire TV box, and will do the same on the Fire TV Stick by spring 2015.

A Comcast official confirmed that the MSO and Amazon are in talks, and that Comcast will have something to announce with regard to HBO GO “very soon.”

Roku joined the chorus Tuesday with a blog post of its own that also offered a list of other MVPDs that are supporting HBO GO and Showtime Anytime on its platform. 

Showtime will offer its TV Everywhere service to Xbox One video game owners as part of a distribution deal announced Tuesday, said network officials.

The pay TV service will provide access to its Showtime Anytime service to Xbox One video game console owners who have a Showtime and a Xbox Live subscription.

The service, which launched earlier this year on Xbox 360, features past seasons of such original shows as Homeland, The Affair, Shameless, Ray Donovan, Masters Of Sex, Dexter and Nurse Jackie.

Showtime is launching the first ever tactile feedback video for Android mobile devices, available on the fourth season of the drama series, Homeland.

Technology company, Immersion, will provide the virtual effects, making viewers feel as if they are immersed the high-impact series. The trailer is available in the “Coming Soon” area on Showtime Anytime for select Android devices.

“We’re always looking for innovative ways to create memorable fan experiences on mobile devices and it’s exciting to partner with Immersion for our number one series, Homeland,” said Executive Vice President, Program Marketing & Digital Services, Showtime Networks Inc, Don Buckley.

After installing the update, the trailer will provide a multi-layered sensory experience through tangible feedback. Viewers’ sight, sound and touch will be heightened as they experience the tactile effects of each dramatic scene.

Haptic technology has never been used through video on mobile devices, and Showtime is the first to market it through mobile advertising.

“The subtle, yet impactful placement of the haptic technology builds anticipation, giving the trailer an added element of suspense, achieved through a combined sensory experience,” said Buckley.

Two new back-to-back episodes of Homeland will air on October 5th at 9 p.m., in which the innovative trailer will then be available.

While Microsoft continues touting new gaming console Xbox One as a comprehensive entertainment box, the system’s predecessor has added access to Showtime’s TV Everywhere Platform. 

Showtime Networks has added its authenticated Showtime Anytime service to the Xbox 360, available for free to all Xbox Live members and Showtime subscribers. In addition to the platform’s large selection of on-demand content, Showtime Anytime will offer Xbox users the ability to watch live broadcasts of both the East and West coast feeds. 

Showtime Anytime also integrates well with the Xbox Kinect, the motion and voice controlled device that was introduced on the Xbox 360 and became a key feature of the Xbox One. The Kinect allows Showtime viewers to browse titles and control playback without the use of a controller or remote. 

Tom Christie, President, Distribution, Business Development and Network Operations, Showtime Networks Inc., explained that the network plans to offer its authenticated service on as many platforms as possible for viewers. 

“The launch of Showtime Anytime on Xbox 360 is the logical next step in the expansion of our service. Our goal is for our subscribers to have the ability to access their favorite Showtime series wherever, whenever and however they want to watch across multiple platforms, so we’re excited to bring our award-winning programs to Xbox Live’s growing membership of millions,” Christie said in a statement. 

Showtime Anytime is expected to launch on the Xbox One later this year. 

Cox Communications has launched Showtime Anytime, the premium programmer’s authenticated TV Everywhere service.

Showtime Anytime features on-demand access to hundreds of hours of content, plus the channels’ East and West coast live feeds. Showtime has developed apps for iOS and Android smartphones and tablets, the Kindle Fire, Roku and the new Amazon Fire TV device.

The app features current and past seasons of Showtime original such as Shows and series such as Homeland, Dexter, Ray Donovan, Masters of Sex, Penny Dreadful, and Nurse Jackie, as well as movies, documentaries and other specials form the Showtime library.

Other MVPDs with rights to Showtime Anytime include AT&T U-verse, Blue Ridge Communications, Bright House Networks, Cablevision Systems, CenturyLink Communications, Charter Communications, Comcast, DirecTV, Grande Communications, Mediacom Communications, Time Warner Cable and Verizon FiOS.

Amazon is starting to address one of the early limitations of its new Fire TV box – the device’s integrated voice search capabilities are limited to Amazon’s own video library and Vevo. 

That will start to change this summer, when Amazon extends voice search support to Hulu Plus, Crackle and Showtime Anytime.

“We’re excited and energized by the momentum we’re seeing with Fire TV,” said Dave Limp, vice president, Amazon Devices. “Customers are telling us they love it, developers are building for it, and we’re working hard to expand existing features and build new ones. We’re thrilled to have Hulu Plus, Crackle, and SHOWTIME integrating their full selection of movies and TV shows into Fire TV’s unified voice search.”

Amazon also identified several partners that are working on app for the platform, including Telltale Games, Disney Interactive, Minority Media, Gaiam, and Twitch, a popular service that allows gamers to live stream their play via the Web.

Amazon said it’s also working on a new browsing feature for Prime Instant Video, and the integration of Amazon FreeTime (parental control software currently used in Kindle tablets) and Amazon MP3, which will be part of a “free, over-the-air software update.”