Cord cutters, it‘s time to get excited. Paramount+, the streaming home of Showtime, CBS, Nickelodeon and more, just launched on The Roku Channel! Roku device owners now gain instant access to tens of thousands of hit movies, iconic TV shows, live sports, originals and beyond.
This groundbreaking partnership provides Roku users yet another way to cut the cord for good. For Paramount+, it accelerates their ambitious growth plans through Roku‘s industry-leading distribution network.
But what exactly does Paramount+ offer compared to rivals like Netflix or Hulu? What are the benefits of subscribing directly through Roku? And most importantly – is all that content worth your hard-earned dollars? I‘ll answer all this and more in this comprehensive guide to Paramount+‘s arrival on Roku.
A Quick History of Paramount+
Let‘s start with some background on Paramount+ itself, and why Roku would ink this blockbuster content deal.
Paramount+ began life in 2014 as CBS All Access – an extension of the CBS TV network offering live streams of local affiliates and on-demand access to current shows like NCIS, Survivor and The Late Show.
Over the next few years, CBS added more cable channel brands under their umbrella like Comedy Central, BET, MTV and Nickelodeon. This built Paramount+ into a powerhouse collection of the most iconic names in entertainment.
Then in 2019, CBS re-merged with sister company Viacom after splitting 13 years earlier. Together under the rebranded Paramount Global, properties like Paramount Pictures, Showtime and Paramount Network joined the flock.
In 2021, CBS All Access was relaunched under the Paramount+ moniker we know today. The goal? Compete in streaming against the Netflixes, Disneys and HBO Max‘s of the world.
| Year | Major Milestones |
|---|---|
| 2014 | CBS All Access launches |
| 2016 | Cable channels like Comedy Central added |
| 2019 | ViacomCBS merger finalized |
| 2021 | Rebrand to Paramount+ |
And Paramount+ continues its ambitious expansion plans. They have already launched versions of the service in international markets like Latin America and Europe. Next up? India, South Korea and more down the road.
Meanwhile a new deal with Roku supercharges Paramount‘s US growth. Roku reached 70 million user accounts last year in the States alone. Tapping into this captive audience gives Paramount+ distribution Apple and Amazon surely envy.
But what makes Paramount+ on Roku unique compared to going direct? Do cord cutters really save by subscribing? Let‘s break down the key benefits.
Benefits of Streaming Paramount+ on The Roku Channel
Roku has customized the Paramount+ experience in some clever ways. Most notably, Roku developed a dedicated Live TV Guide exclusively for Paramount+. This finally makes navigating Paramount‘s robust live sports and news programming way more convenient.
Additional membership perks include:
- Unified Watchlist & Recommendations – Your Paramount+ viewing activity will now dynamically appear within The Roku Channel watch list and recommendations
- Industry-Leading Distribution – Access to Paramount+ reaches 70+ million Roku member households
- Seamless Sign Ups – Subscribe right from The Roku Channel in just clicks
Analysts also see wider strategic implications from linking one of streaming‘s most popular services to Roku‘s distribution juggernaut.
For Paramount Global, Roku provides crucial exposure to new demographics like next-gen cord cutters. These young streamers may overlook a name like Paramount+ on their own. But having it featured on one of their most-used apps guarantees new eyeballs.
As for Roku, embedding a renowned content provider like Paramount+ should increase usage and loyalty across their entire platform. Roku Channel watch time grew by nearly 90% last year. Partnerships like Paramount+ will surely keep accelerating engagement metrics higher.
The bottom line? This collaboration aims to keep viewers within Roku‘s walled garden instead of hopping between apps. Will the strategy pay off in the form of new signups? Only the subscription numbers will tell…
What‘s Available to Watch on Paramount+?
Next let‘s explore exactly what types of entertainment you can expect from a Paramount+ subscription. In short – almost anything you could ask for!
The service stands right up there with rivals boasting thousands of movies, iconic shows, 24/7 live sports, originals and more. Check out the content count across genres:
| Content Type | Total Available | Notable Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Movies | 2,500+ | A Quiet Place, Mission Impossible, Transformers, Indiana Jones, Star Trek, The Godfather, Top Gun |
| TV Shows | 40,000+ episodes | Big Brother, Blue‘s Clues, Chappelle‘s Show, Cheers, Criminal Minds, Dexter, Frasier, Rugrats, SpongeBob, Survivor, The Brady Bunch, The Daily Show, Unplugged |
| Paramount+ Originals | 150+ | 1883, Halo, Mayor of Kingstown, RuPaul‘s Drag Race All Stars, Star Trek: Discovery, The Offer, Yellowstone Spin-offs |
| Live Sports | 1,000+ games | NFL on CBS, NCAA Basketball, UEFA Champions League |
| Kids | 3,000+ episodes | Avatar: The Last Airbender, Blue‘s Clues, Dora, iCarly, PAW Patrol, Rugrats, SpongeBob, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles |
| Reality & Docs | 2,500+ episodes | Catfish, Jersey Shore, Lip Sync Battle, RuPaul‘s Drag Race, The Hills, Wild ‘n Out |
| News & Entertainment | CBS News & Entertainment, CBSN, ET Live 24/7, 60 Minutes+ |
From newly released blockbusters, to classic sitcoms like Frasier and Cheers, to primetime staples such as NCIS, Survivor, and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert — Paramount+ offers renowned titles from across films, series, live sports and breaking news.
More recent additions like 1883, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds and Halo join an ever-expanding collection of buzzworthy originals you won‘t find anywhere else. Of course you can also stream an iconic comedy special or all-time great film to your heart‘s content!
Add it all up and Paramount+ stands shoulder-to-shoulder against any streaming competitor when it comes to breadth of high-quality programming options.
Paramount+ Pricing Breakdown
Alright, let‘s talk dollars and cents. Signing up for Paramount+ directly on your Roku device earns you the exact same pricing tiers as going to their website:
| Plan | Monthly Cost | Ads? | Annual Cost (Savings) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essential | $4.99/mo | Yes | $49.99 (Save 16%) |
| Premium | $9.99/mo | No | Not Available |
The low entry cost of just $4.99 per month makes Paramount+ a downright steal compared to rival options:
| Service | Starting Monthly Price |
|---|---|
| Paramount+ | $4.99 |
| Netflix | $9.99 |
| Hulu | $7.99 |
| Disney+ | $7.99 |
| HBO Max | $9.99 |
Based on these numbers, Paramount+ provides easily the most bang for your buck, delivering thousands more hours of films, series and sports than the average cable TV package. Factor in a free 1-week trial period, and Roku subscribers have every reason to give Paramount+ a spin.
One note – at this time Roku customers cannot bundle Paramount+ with other standalone services like Showtime. But based on their cozy relationship, common sense says bundled pricing options could arrive down the road. We‘ll be keeping an eye out.
Either way, scoring Paramount+‘s mammoth content vault for just over $60 per year seems like highway robbery!
How to Sign Up on Your Roku Device in 3 Easy Steps
When a sweet deal comes along, why wait? Signing up for Paramount+ through The Roku Channel takes mere minutes using these simple steps:
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Open The Roku Channel app – Access via your Roku streaming player home screen or Roku TV input.
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Select "Premium Subscriptions" – Choose the Paramount+ tile then pick your preferred plan.
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Start watching! – Access Paramount+ via its designated icon now visible within The Roku Channel.
And remember – Paramount+ offers viewing apps across mobile, web, Fire TV and most streaming platforms. Just use your Roku login info!
The Roku Channel also promises continued improvements like enhanced integration and bundled promos. But our advice? Take Paramount+ for a spin now before the irresistible value gets even sweeter!
Have any other questions before signing up? Think I missed any key details around Paramount+‘s arrival? Let me know in the comments below!
