Paramount+ Streaming Service Is Coming To The UK

Another major US streaming service is coming to the UK: Paramount+, the video-on-demand subscription service owned by Viacom CBS, will cross the pond in 2022.

The service will be available both as a stand-alone streaming app, and as a free add-on to some Sky Q customers.

• Also See: ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Moving From Netflix To Paramount+ In The UK

The news comes days after the announcement that Peacock – the streaming service owned by NBCUniversal – will also be coming to the UK, before the end of this year (but will only be available to Sky and NOW customers, at least at the beginning).

Paramount+ originally launched in the US as CBS All Access in 2014, with content from North American TV network CBS.

In addition to library content from CBS’ past, the channel also produced a few original shows, such as The Good Fight (the spin-off series to The Good Wife), and, most notably Star Trek: Discovery, the long-awaited Star Trek sequel (or rather, prequel) series. 

In March 2021, CBS All Access changed its name to Paramount+, following the merger with Viacom, bringing in content from additional partners, such as Showtime, Comedy Central and Paramount Pictures.

In the US, Paramount+ offers two paid tiers: $4.99/month with adverts, and $9.99/month without adverts. In the UK, for now, it’s only available via a VPN.

Paramount+ Expanding To The UK

Today it was announced that Paramount+ will be coming to the UK, Ireland, Italy, Germany, Switzerland and Austria in 2022, thanks to an extended partnership with Sky.

As part of its partnership with Sky, Paramount+ will initially be available as an app on Sky Q, adding its content library to Sky’s subscribers. 

Sky Q subscribers with the Sky Cinema plan, will get Paramount+ at no extra cost, getting more than 10,000 hours of extra content. All other Sky customers will be able to subscribe to Paramount+ as an add-on to their account.

Sky confirmed to us that NOW subscribers (Sky’s streaming service) won’t get Paramount+ for free, even if they’re subscribed to the Cinema membership. But the stand-alone Paramount+ app will be available on NOW’s own streaming devices (although those are no longer being manufactured).

Since some of the movies available on Paramount+ in the US are already a part of Sky Cinema, we’re told those movies will remain on Sky Cinema as part of its library, so those will at least be accessible to NOW Cinema subscribers.

A selection of films from other studios (other than Paramount) will only be available on Paramount+.

Hidden (somewhat) in the announcement is the fact that Paramount+ will also be available direct-to-consumer in the UK, via an app for mobile phones and supported streaming devices and Smart TVs.

It means anyone will be able to subscribe to Paramount+ once it arrives in 2022, even without being a Sky subscriber – much like any other streaming service, such as Disney+ and Netflix.

Exact pricing hasn’t been announced yet, though it will likely be similar to the pricing in the US.

What Content Will Paramount+ Have In The UK?

Some of Paramount Plus’ most notable original productions already have other streaming houses in the UK: Star Trek: Discovery is on Netflix, Star Trek: Picard and Lower Decks is on Amazon Prime Video, The Good Fight is on Channel 4 and Prime Video, and the list goes on.

Therefore, at least for the foreseeable future, we will likely not see many of these staple shows on Paramount+ in the UK – at least until their current deals expire.

However, some of the titles that WILL become available on Paramount+ through 2022 in the UK, include new takes on iconic franchises, including HALO, The Offer and the new iCarly series.

Furthermore, as the international home of SHOWTIME, the service will offer The Man Who Fell to Earth, Ripley, Super Pumped, and American Gigolo, in addition to popular titles from ViacomCBS, such as Kamp Koral: SpongeBob’s Under Years, Star Trek: Prodigy, and MTV Unplugged.

The service will also feature a collection of new movie premieres and fan favourites from Paramount Pictures such as films from the Mission Impossible and Transformers franchises.

Outside of the US, Paramount+ will offer nearly 3,000 episodes of kids’ content, 1,000 episodes of reality, more than 500 films, and 2,500 hours of Paramount+ Originals, CBS and SHOWTIME® series, dramas, and sitcoms.