Paramount+ Introduces $5 Ad-Supported Plan to Undersell HBO Max's Rates
Paramount+, the streaming service operated by ViacomCBS, is responding to the competitive streaming landscape by introducing a new low-cost tier priced at $5 per month. This move comes as the platform faces increased pressure due to new plans from its competitors and the impending merger of WarnerMedia and Discovery, though the specifics of this merger were not mentioned in the article.
The new Essential plan, set to launch alongside a new slate of content for summer, will replace the existing Limited Commercial plan, which will continue to provide access to live content from your local CBS affiliate. The Essential plan, however, does not include the ability to download titles for offline viewing or access to live content from your local CBS affiliate.
The new plan is cheaper than the premium tier, which is $10 a month. Essential subscribers on Paramount+ will have access to a slice of live sports, including NFL on CBS and UEFA Champions League matches. To access PGA golf or NCAA basketball on Paramount+, you will need to upgrade to a more expensive tier. The Essential plan on Paramount+ supports 4K and HDR.
In a bid to boost Paramount+'s competitiveness, the CEO of ViacomCBS, David Ellison, has announced major measures. This includes a $7.7 billion exclusive U.S. deal for UFC live sports content, a strict return-to-office mandate, and plans for significant job cuts to reduce costs by $2 billion.
Paramount+ is also set to stream the new PAW Patrol movie the same day it's released in theaters on August 20, and will acquire the streaming rights for A Quiet Place Part II following the end of its theatrical run. In addition, the service will exclusively host the new sci-fi action film Infinite, starring Mark Wahlberg and Chiwetel Ejiofor.
By the end of the summer, Paramount+ aims to have over 2,500 feature films available for streaming, with over 1,000 new films scheduled to arrive starting June 10. However, it remains uncertain if the addition of this cheaper ad-supported tier will give Paramount+ the boost it needs to keep up with Netflix, HBO Max, Disney+, and others in the long term. There are also rumors of possibly even more streaming mergers coming in the not-too-distant future.
Read also:
- Understanding Hemorrhagic Gastroenteritis: Key Facts
- Stopping Osteoporosis Treatment: Timeline Considerations
- Trump's Policies: Tariffs, AI, Surveillance, and Possible Martial Law
- Expanded Community Health Involvement by CK Birla Hospitals, Jaipur, Maintained Through Consistent Outreach Programs Across Rajasthan
