Paramount+ Is Combining With Another Huge Streaming App
Paramount+ is combining with another streaming service and will now have a much bigger offering of online content.
In the realm of streaming wars, Paramount+ and Showtime have struggled to compete with giants like Disney+, Netflix, and HBO Max. Now, to expand its offering, Paramount Global has decided to merge its strengths by combining both services into one app. The news follows last year’s move to unify the billing of both streaming platforms with significant discounts, as the parent company wanted to give the service an extra boost. New subscribers can sign up for the basic ad-supported combo at just $7.99 a month, while the commercial-free version will cost $12.99.
Current subscribers can upgrade their existing plan to the bundle within the app, Deadline reports. Once the introductory discount ends on October 2nd, the basic subscription will cost $11.99 a month with commercials and $14.99 without. Folks who don’t want Paramount+ but are still interested in Showtime will still be able to subscribe for $10.99 a month as a stand-alone offering. That offer also applies through third-party distributors. The reverse is also possible with a slight adjustment to the price. A standalone Paramount+ membership will cost $4.99 a month with ads or $9.99 without them.
However, there is one small catch. Live sporting events are not part of the ad-free option, although Showtime programming will not carry commercials when viewed via the combined app. Speaking about the app merger, President and Chief Executive Officer of Paramount Global Streaming, Tom Ryan said the Paramount+ and Showtime bundle offers folks unprecedented value by providing a vast streaming content library at some of the lowest prices on the market. “This singular user experience streamlines sign-up and enhances discovery,” he told Variety.
Ryan added that the lower price will also allow more households to enjoy the combined entertainment offering from Paramount+ and Showtime. Content on the former currently includes original series like 1883, Halo, Star Trek: Discovery, and Secret Headquarters. There are also a slew of upcoming originals like Tulsa King, On the Come Up, Criminal Minds, Wolf Pack, and 1923 debuting this fall. Meanwhile, Showtime’s popular shows include Billions, Yellowjackets, The Chi, and Dexter: New Blood. There’s also new programming like American Gigolo and Let the Right One In premiering soon.
Interestingly, Paramount+ subscribers outside the United States already have access to Showtime. The service is offered by default within the international streaming platform. According to Tech Crunch, Paramount+ recently launched in the United Kingdom and Ireland with plans to expand into Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Africa, and the Middle East. The streaming service was also launched in South Korea in partnership with TVING. It plans to include India in partnership with Viacom 18. In the second quarter Paramount+ added 4.9 million subscribers, reaching 43.3 million overall.
The Paramount+ with Showtime offering comes as Warner Bros Discovery works to combine HBO Max and Discovery+ into a single platform in 2023. But the company has not revealed pricing or packaging details at this time. Meanwhile, Disney’s three-way bundle of Disney+, ESPN+, and Hulu has been a major success since its 2020 introduction. While each service remains separate, Hulu is expected to migrate to Disney+ once the House of Mouse gains full control in 2024.
