Sky Finally Lets You Upgrade Paramount+ To Ditch Adverts

Remember when Sky unceremoniously demoted all Cinema subscribers to the ad-riddled Basic tier of Paramount+? Well, it seems they’ve finally listened to the collective grumbling of customers across the UK.

In a quietly launched update, Sky is now allowing Cinema subscribers to upgrade their free Paramount+ subscription to higher tiers – and at a discount compared to going direct.

This welcome change, tipped off by a Cord Busters reader (cheers, Roy!), marks a significant U-turn from January’s downgrade.

For just a few pounds extra per month, you can now escape those momentum-killing advert breaks or even unlock 4K streaming quality. 

What is Paramount+ Again?

If you haven’t been keeping up, Paramount+ is the streaming service that launched in the UK back in 2022, bringing with it shows like the new Star Trek series, Yellowstone and its numerous spin-offs, Dexter and its spin-offs, and new blockbuster films from the Paramount stable.

While its library isn’t quite as massive as Netflix or Disney+, it’s carved out a decent niche with exclusive content from production studios including CBS, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, Paramount Pictures, and SHOWTIME.

Those Three Tiers Explained

Back in November 2024, Paramount+ shook things up with a new pricing structure. They went from a single £6.99/month plan to three different options:

Basic with Ads

• £4.99/month
• Full HD quality but with advert breaks
• Only one device at a time
• Still gives you access to everything in the library

Standard

• £7.99/month (that’s £1 more than the old plan)
• Full HD quality
• Two devices streaming at once
• Blissfully ad-free viewing

Premium

• £10.99/month
• 4K UHD with all the bells and whistles (HDR10, Dolby Vision)
• Four concurrent streams for the whole family
• No adverts to spoil your viewing

The Sky Cinema Saga

When Paramount+ first arrived in the UK, Sky made what seemed like a good move by bundling it free with Sky Cinema subscriptions.

Everyone was happy – Sky customers got extra content at no additional cost, and Paramount+ quickly gained a UK subscriber base.

This January, however, Sky announced they were downgrading all Cinema subscribers from the ad-free Standard tier to the new Basic with ads tier. You can imagine how well that went down.

At the time, Sky stated they weren’t “able to offer other plans” – meaning if you wanted to escape the ads, you’d need to cancel your Sky-provided access and pay full whack for a separate Paramount+ subscription.

Not exactly customer-friendly, was it?

The Upgrade Options – Finally!

Now, after months of frustration, Sky has quietly introduced the ability to upgrade. Here’s the deal:

• You’ll still get the Basic with Ads tier (worth £4.99/month) for free with Sky Cinema
• Want to ditch the ads? Upgrade to Standard for just £3/month extra
• Fancy 4K and more devices? Go Premium for £6/month extra

So, you’re effectively saving £4.99/month (the cost of the Basic tier) regardless of which upgrade you choose.

Compared to paying directly through Paramount+, that’s a substantial discount.

Keep in mind, however, that if you cancel your Sky Cinema subscription at any time – you would have to start paying full price for your Paramount+ subscription. 

How to Upgrade Your Paramount+ on Sky

Here’s the slightly annoying bit – you can’t upgrade through the Sky app or website, at least for now.

Instead, you’ll need to do it directly through your Sky box:

1. Hit Home on your remote, then find “My Sky” at the bottom of the page
2. Select Shop, then locate the Paramount+ app
3. Choose your preferred plan (Standard or Premium)
4. Follow the on-screen prompts to confirm

This should work the same way whether you’ve got Sky Q, Sky Glass, or Sky Stream.

This move feels like Sky finally responding to customer complaints, even if it took them a few months to sort it out.

It’s also interesting to note this comes as all streaming services are pushing towards tiered models, with adverts becoming increasingly common across the board.

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