• Los Angeles Times, Wednesday, December 3, 2008 9:30 AM

A slate of programming that plays on aberrant social behavior is helping Showtime grow in a cable industry struggling to keep subscribers. For instance, a widow in "Weeds" becomes a pot dealer to maintain her lifestyle, a serial killer in "Dexter" works for the police, and a novelist in "Californication" is a cynical womanizer.

This pathology programming, introduced by entertainment chief Robert Greenblatt, has led Showtime to add 1.1 million subscribers this year, an increase of 7% over 2007. It marks the network's fifth consecutive year of growth.

Also, while broadcast TV is being slammed by an ad downturn, Showtime has proved to be one of CBS Corp.'s most profitable businesses. This year Showtime Networks (which includes sister channels TMC and Flix) will generate more than $400 million in operating income, up 20% from last year.

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