Paramount+ In The UK: Everything You Need To Know

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Paramount Plus, the global streaming service, has now been in the UK for more than a year, and we’re here with an updated guide that will answer all your questions: How to get a free trial, which devices you can install it on, what you can actually watch on it, all the technical details – and a lot more.

You can find my full review of Paramount+ here – but for now, here’s all the important stuff.

What Is Paramount+?

Paramount+, owned by Paramount Global (previously ViacomCBS), launched in the US in 2014 and was originally known as CBS All Access.

In 2022, Paramount+ started going global, launching in various countries. By the end of 2022, Paramount+ had over 77 million customers worldwide.

With it being a streaming service, Paramount+ requires a broadband connection, and is not available via an aerial or satellite (though its streaming app is also available on Sky’s devices – see below).

The service is available both directly via the Paramount+ app, and as an Amazon Prime Video Channel.

Prime Video Channels require an Amazon Prime subscription, and you then subscribe to Paramount+ on top of that. You will then be able to watch Paramount+ on any device that supports the Prime Video app – and not just those that have the Paramount+ app.

How Much Does Paramount+ Cost?

Paramount+ UK costs £6.99/month – or £69.90/year (so £5.82/month) if you pay up for a full year in advance. 

In the US, Paramount+ has a cheaper tier with adverts, but in the UK, there’s only one tier – with no adverts at all.

Paramount Plus fire TV app sign up grid
Paramount+

Is There A Paramount+ Free Trial?

Yes, you can get a free trial for seven days – but you have to sign up with a payment method, and remember to cancel before the trial is up if you don’t want to get billed.

There’s a trick to get the free trial twice: since the direct Paramount+ subscription and the Prime Video Channel’s Paramount+ subscription are separate, you can grab the free trial on one, and once that’s done (don’t forget to cancel) – grab a second free trial on Prime Video.

What Can I Watch On Paramount+ In The UK?

At launch, Paramount+ UK offered more than 8,000 hours of content, including more than 240 TV shows as well as feature films.

Paramount Plus launch collage
Photos: Paramount+ / Deposit Photos

A year later, with monthly addition, Paramount+ in the UK has quite a library of content.

Paramount+ includes original shows that aren’t available anywhere else, like Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Halo, Rabbit Hole, Tulsa King and Fatal Attraction.

In addition, there are a lot of old and new shows from the Paramount/CBS/Showtimes archives – many of which were available on Sky and other streaming services in the past. These include Yellowstone, Yellowjackets, Billions, Dexter, Blue Bloods, Bull and more.

Some of the popular shows, like NCIS and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, only have their later seasons on Paramount+ for now (yes, even a year after launch), with the licensing rights of the earlier seasons still belonging to other channels and streaming services.

NCIS seasons on Paramount Plus UK

Star Trek fans will be happy to hear that most of the Star Trek franchise is available on Paramount+ UK, including The Original Series, The Next Generation, Voyager, Deep Space Nine, Enterprise, Discovery, Picard, Lower Decks and Strange New Worlds.

Star Trek: The Animated Series is currently missing, and the animated Star Trek: Prodigy is set to be removed from the service.

In addition to TV shows, Paramount+ also includes a long list of films, both old and new, including blockbusters such as Top Gun: Maverick, Scream, The Transformers films and more.

Top Gun Maverick tom cruise
Top Gun Maverick (Photo: Paramount)

How Many Devices Can I Watch Paramount+ On?

You can add Paramount+ to an unlimited number of devices,  but you can only watch on up to two devices simultaneously (under the same subscription).

Which Devices Can I Watch Paramount+ On?

Paramount+ UK has a standalone app for most of the streaming devices available in the UK, including:

  • iPhones / iPads
  • Android Smartphones / Tablets
  • Desktop Browser
  • Apple TV
  • Amazon’s Fire TV Devices
  • Roku Devices (Roku Express, Roku Express 4K, Roku Premiere, Roku Streaming Stick, Roku Streambar)
  • Android TV
  • Chromecast / Google TV
  • NOW TV Smart Sticks
  • Samsung TVs (2017 and newer)

Fire TV 4K Max VS Roku Stick 4K VS Chromecast with Google TV boxes and remotes

If your device is not currently supported, but it does have the Amazon Prime Video app – you can sign up and watch via the Prime Video Channels version of Paramount+.

Can I Watch Paramount+ On Sky?

Yes, the Paramount+ app is available on Sky Q, as well as Sky’s streaming TV, Sky Glass, and the Sky Stream puck.

Sky customers with those devices, who are also subscribed to Sky Cinema (check Sky offers here), can get Paramount+ for free, as a “bonus”, as long as they remain members of Sky Cinema (and as long as the deal is still in place).

Paramount Plus on Sky Glass

Once you sign up to Paramount+ via Sky, you will also be able to access the service on other streaming devices (including your smartphone), and not just on Sky’s devices.

Sky customers with older Sky+ boxes, will NOT be able to get the full app for free, and will not be able to access it on other devices either (unless they subscribe to it independently, of course.)

Instead, Sky+ will have “a range of content” available on their set-top box, including select series and Paramount films. That content, however, will be limited.

For more, see our full guide on how to get Paramount+ on Sky.

Can I Get Paramount+ On NOW TV?

Sky’s streaming service, NOW (formerly NOW TV), also has a Sky Cinema membership (that currently costs £9.99/month).

However, Sky Cinema members on NOW will not be getting Paramount+ for free.

They will however still be able to watch those specific Paramount Pictures films that will remain available on Sky Cinema, including new releases that will be added throughout the year.

Furthermore, the stand-alone Paramount+ app will be available on NOW’s own streaming devices, if you still own one of those (although they’re no longer being manufactured).

Can I Watch Paramount+ On Virgin Media?

Yes. Although it wasn’t available at launch, an app for Virgin Media’s TV360 box as well as for the streaming-based Virgin Media Stream box finally launched in 2023.

Virgin Media Paramount Plus collage

However, customers with the older V6 or Tivo boxes, will not be getting the Paramount+ app. 

Also, note that Virgin Media customers who are subscribed to Sky Cinema via their VM subscription – do no get Paramount+ for free (unlike direct Sky Cinema subscribers).

What’s The Picture / Sound Quality On Paramount+ UK?

For now, Paramount+ in the UK is only available in Full HD (1080p), as it does NOT support 4K/HDR.

In the US, many of Paramount Plus’ flagship shows do stream in 4K/HDR, therefore this is particularly disappointing for UK fans.

In terms of sound, Paramount+ UK does NOT support Dolby Atmos, and at the moment officially supports 5.1 Dolby Sound. 

As for the future, Paramount confirmed to us that there are concrete plans to support 4K/HDR and Dolby Atmos in the UK – but we’re now a year in, and there’s still no 4K in sight.

Can I Download Content On A Smartphone?

You can download content to your smartphone and watch it when you’re offline. However, only a limited selection of shows and films are available to download. 

Paramount Plus uk available to download

To find out what’s available, go to More on the Paramount+ app, choose Downloads, and then “Browse Available Videos”.

Can I Watch Paramount+ When Travelling Abroad?

If you have a Paramount+ subscription in the UK, you will be able to travel and use the service within the European Union, UK, Australia, Canada, Latin America, or Brazil.

You will NOT be able to use the US version of Paramount+, as it’s a separate subscription and your credentials from the UK would not work.

To use Paramount+ in the US you would have to create a new subscription while in the US (but then that subscription would not work in the UK).

Paramount Plus on phone
Photo: Deposit Photos / FellowNeko

Furthermore, if you travel to countries where Paramount+ isn’t available yet, you will also not be able to watch anything.

Also keep in mind that when you travel (to a supported country), you will only be able to watch the content available in that country, which may be different from the content currently available in the UK.

Your downloaded content may also stop working when you travel, as its licensing rights may not be compatible with the country you’re in.

All this is also true when using a VPN – a method which is used by some to bypass geoblocks.

Are There Subtitles / Captions on Paramount+ UK?

Yes, most of the content on Paramount+ UK includes optional subtitles.

For now, however, it appears there are no Audio Descriptions.

20 thoughts on “Paramount+ In The UK: Everything You Need To Know”

  1. How come Discovery on Netflix seasons 1-3 had audio description and now on paramount + it does not. Well until they do it’s not worth it for my husband.

    Reply
  2. Hmmm… Episode 8 of Strange New Worlds that was visible yesterday is now missing and we are back to only episodes 1, 2 and 3 again.

    Guess it appeared by accident. What is the betting the missing episodes will vanish when the 7 day free viewing passes.

    Reply
  3. Not managed to turn subtitles on Paramount+ on sky app installed yesterday , none of the latest googled suggestions work. there is no accessibility under settings nor closed captions.. So unless someone has a working solution, it will be wasted on so many of us hard of hearers..

    Reply
    • Not sure about Sky Q, but on Sky Glass I was able to turn the (tiny) subtitles on with an icon on the top right side of the screen, when playing a programme

      Reply
    • Spot on Peter, same here, have tried turning on in correct way but could not do so on a variety of content. Wonder if as per certain programmes, live streaming does not seem to carry subtitles, accept Sky which seems to

      Reply

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