The major American streaming service Paramount+, that’s coming to the UK on June 22, is set to launch as an Amazon Prime Video Channel, alongside its standalone app.
While Paramount Plus’ standalone app will be available at launch on most of the major streaming devices – Amazon Fire TV sticks and tablets, Roku and others – users will still have to install a new app, and some devices – like older Smart TVs – won’t support it at all.
Therefore, the Prime Video Channels route (which was confirmed by Amazon today), will make Paramount+ instantly accessible on 40+ million devices that support Amazon’s Prime Video app – from streaming devices to Smart TVs and even a few Freeview Play boxes (such as the Humax Aura).
The monthly price is expected to be the same whether you subscribe via Prime Video Channels, or directly via Paramount+, and is set to cost £6.99/month at launch, after a 7-days free trial.
Prime Video Channels however don’t typically offer annual subscriptions – so the annual £69.90/year Paramount+ offer will likely be available only to those who subscribe directly (see additional differences between the two types of subscriptions below).
In the US, Paramount+ also offers a cheaper tier with adverts – but that type of plan will not be available in the UK at launch.
What Is Paramount+?
Paramount+, owned by Paramount Global (previously ViacomCBS), launched in the US in 2014 and was known at first as CBS All Access.
When it launches in the UK on June 22, Paramount+ will offer more than 8,000 hours of content – original TV shows like the new Star Trek incarnations (including Star Trek: Strange New Worlds), Halo, The Good Fight and more, as well as popular US shows like Yellowstone, Mayor of Kingstown and more.
The service will also offer a long list of films – including new releases like Scream 5, and possibly Sonic The Hedgehog 2, which is already available to stream at no extra cost on Paramount+ in the US.
Sky Cinema subscribers will get a Paramount+ subscription for free – but the deal will apparently be offered only to Sky Q and Sky Glass customers. NOW subscribers with a Sky Cinema membership will not get Paramount+ for free.
And, as we reported last month, Paramount+ UK will not support 4K/HDR or Dolby Atmos at launch.
Paramount+ Coming To Prime Video Channels
Amazon Channels are an add-on to your Amazon Prime Video subscription. They launched in the UK back in 2017, and the list of available channels includes many premium channels such as StarzPlay, BritBox, Shudder, Discovery+ and more.
You must have an Amazon Prime subscription first (or Prime Video), and then you can add the channels on top of that – which means these channels aren’t available to everyone (But you can get a free 30-days trial of Amazon Prime).
Most (but not all) of the Prime Video channels are also available as standalone subscriptions – but some customers find it more convenient to subscribe to everything via Prime Video, with single billing and one app that contains all the content.
Since the Prime Video app is available on almost every streaming device in the UK, including Roku, Smart TVs and some Freeview boxes (such as the Humax Aura), this means Paramount+ will be available on even more streaming-capable devices.
One important caveat is that subscribers who sign up to Paramount+ as a Prime Video channel – WON’T be able to watch it directly on the Paramount+ standalone app/site. Instead, they will only be able to watch Paramount+ via the Prime Video app.
And the same holds true in the other direction – if you sign up for the standalone Paramount+ service (via their site or apps), you won’t be able to watch the Prime Video version.
In the US, some Prime Video channels let you verify and use your subscription on standalone apps – such as the Paramount+ app – as well. But that functionality doesn’t exist in the UK at this point.
I was atching paramount plus via Sky but it was plagued with buffering problems and would not let me pick up a program after I had watched a portion of it and tried to go back to it. as a result I signed up for paramount as a Amzon subscription channel. Now this is fine the buffering etc solved. But can anyone tell me why all the programs are included whilst watching on sky but using paramount on Amazon I have to pay for certain programs, when I am paying a separate monthly subscription for paramount
“Therefore, the Prime Video Channels route (which was confirmed by Amazon today), will make Paramount+ instantly accessible on 40+ million devices that support Amazon’s Prime Video app – from streaming devices to Smart TVs and even a few Freeview Play boxes (such as the Manhattan T3-R).”
Has the Manhattan T3-R added Amazon Prime Video now?
No, sorry, that was a typo – meant to say Humax Aura in this case.