Paramount+ prices will be increasing when the streaming platform merges its premium tier with the linear TV channel Showtime on 27 June 2023.
First reported by The Hollywood Reporter on 30 January, the new TV channel and streaming tier will be rebranded as ‘Paramount+ with Showtime’.
The news further developed following an investor call on 16 February which confirmed that prices will be changing for Paramount+ customers as a result of the merger.
Paramount+ Essential will be going up from $4.99 per month to $5.99 per month, whilst Paramount+ will be increasing from $9.99 per month to $11.99 per month. The more expensive tier is ad-free and includes live programming from CBS local stations.
There is still a wait for the price increase, which will come into effect when the new service launches on 27 June 2023.
Paramount CEO Bob Bakish also confirmed that the price hike will impact some countries outside of the US, though we don’t know specifics. He states: “We are on the value end of the pricing spectrum, and so in 2023, we will raise prices — both for Paramount Plus Premium and Essential, both in the US and select international markets.”
The merger will bring select programming from Paramount+ over to broadcast TV. This could include originals such as Halo and the latest season of Star Trek: Picard . These will join Showtime shows such as Yellowjackets, Billions, Dexter, and The Chi.
“Now, with Showtime’s content integrated into our flagship streaming service, and select Paramount+ originals joining the linear offering, Paramount+ will become the definitive multiplatform brand in the streaming space,” says Bakish, “and the first of its kind to integrate streaming and linear content in this way.”
Other existing Showtime series are facing the axe as part of the re-structuring, with Let the Right One In, American Gigolo, and Three Women all confirmed to no longer be moving forward. Further cuts are expected, and likely job losses, with Bakish warning that “this change brings uncertainty for the teams working on these brands and businesses.”
Paramount+ also offers bundles with Showtime already. These cost either $11.99 per month for the Essentials tier, or $14.99 per month for the Premium tier.
You can see how Paramount+ compares to rivals such as Netflix and Disney+ in our list of the best TV streaming services . Accounts start from $4.99/£6.99 per month, and new members can also get a free trial .
You can also read up on how to avoid the Paramount+ price hike .
Author: Hannah Cowton-Barnes, Entertainment Editor, Tech Advisor
As Tech Advisor’s Entertainment Editor, Hannah is the resident expert in all things streaming, film and TV. Before joining Tech Advisor in 2019, she studied Theatre and Performance at the University of Leeds and created a website dedicated to geek culture and lifestyle. She’s also reviewed a whole range of gadgets including flagship smartphones, wearables and styling tools. Outside of Foundry, she’s written freelance pieces for Polygon, Metro and Den of Geek, and is proud to be a Women Techmakers Ambassador for Google.
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