Dish does not include Paramount Plus as a standard channel or app

Dish Network does not bundle Paramount Plus into any of its satellite TV packages. You cannot watch Paramount Plus content through your Dish box the way you watch HBO or Showtime. If you want Paramount Plus, you need to pay for it separately as a streaming subscription, either through Dish's add-on store or directly from Paramount.

This matters because Paramount Plus is where CBS shows, movies, and original series like Yellowstone and 1883 live. If you have a Dish subscription and want access to that content, you have to make a separate choice about how to get it.

Key Takeaways

  • Dish does not include Paramount Plus in any satellite TV package; it is a separate streaming service you must pay for.
  • You can add Paramount Plus through Dish's website or app, or you can subscribe directly to Paramount Plus on your own streaming device.
  • Paramount Plus costs between $5.99 and $11.99 per month depending on whether you choose the ad-supported or ad-free plan.
  • Dish does offer some CBS content through its live TV channels, but not the full Paramount Plus library of movies, originals, and back catalog shows.
  • If you already have a Paramount Plus subscription, you can watch it on any device—phone, tablet, smart TV, or streaming box—without going through Dish.

How to add Paramount Plus if you have Dish

Dish offers Paramount Plus as an add-on through its online store. You can log into your Dish account on their website, go to the add-ons section, and select Paramount Plus. Dish will bill it to your monthly Dish invoice. The subscription starts when ready, and you can watch on the Paramount Plus app on any device—not through your Dish box.

Alternatively, you can sign up for Paramount Plus directly on Paramount's website or through the Paramount Plus app on your phone, tablet, or smart TV. This route does not connect to your Dish account at all; Paramount bills you separately. Both paths cost the same amount and give you the same service. The only difference is where the bill appears and which company handles your account.

What Paramount Plus costs

Paramount Plus offers two subscription tiers. The ad-supported plan costs $5.99 per month. The ad-free plan costs $11.99 per month. Some live sports and events are only available on the ad-free tier, but most shows and movies work on both.

Occasionally Paramount runs promotional pricing—sometimes $2.99 per month for the first few months—but these deals come and go. Check Paramount's website directly before you sign up to see if a current offer is running.

What CBS content Dish does include

Dish includes live CBS in most markets as part of its standard channel lineup. You get the local CBS station and CBS as a national channel. This means you can watch CBS shows as they air live, and Dish's cloud DVR lets you record them.

However, Dish does not give you the Paramount Plus library. That library includes back seasons of CBS shows, movies, original series made only for Paramount Plus, and content from other Paramount-owned networks like Comedy Central and MTV. If you want to rewatch an episode of The Good Wife or watch Halo (a Paramount Plus original), you need Paramount Plus itself.

Watching Paramount Plus on your devices

Once you have a Paramount Plus subscription—whether through Dish or directly—you watch it on the Paramount Plus app. This app works on phones, tablets, computers, smart TVs, Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire Stick, Google Chromecast, PlayStation, and Xbox. You do not need a Dish box or Dish equipment to use it.

read the Paramount Plus app, log in with your subscription account, and start watching. You can stream on up to four devices at the same time, depending on your plan. If you have a smart TV, the easiest route is usually to read the app directly to the TV rather than casting from your phone.

Comparing Dish bundles with streaming alternatives

If Paramount Plus is important to you, it is worth thinking about whether Dish plus Paramount Plus makes sense for your household, or whether a streaming-only approach might work better. Dish's base packages start around $70 per month (prices vary by location and current promotions). Adding Paramount Plus brings that to roughly $76 to $82 per month depending on which Paramount tier you choose.

Some households find that a combination of individual streaming services—Paramount Plus, Netflix, Disney Plus, and others—costs less than a satellite TV package and gives them more control over what they pay for. Others prefer having live TV and sports through Dish. There is no single right answer; it depends on what you actually watch and what you are willing to spend.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I watch Paramount Plus through my Dish remote or Dish box?

No. Paramount Plus is a separate app that runs on your phone, tablet, smart TV, or streaming device. You cannot launch it from your Dish box or control it with your Dish remote. You watch it the same way you would watch Netflix or any other streaming service.

If I cancel Dish, do I lose Paramount Plus?

Only if you added Paramount Plus through Dish's store. If you subscribed directly to Paramount Plus, your subscription stays active even if you cancel Dish. Check your billing to see which way you signed up—if Paramount Plus appears on your Dish bill, it will stop when you cancel Dish. If you get a separate bill from Paramount, it continues.

Does Dish offer any other streaming services as add-ons?

Yes. Dish offers add-ons including Netflix, Disney Plus, HBO Max, and others through its online store. Like Paramount Plus, these are separate subscriptions billed to your Dish account, and you watch them through their own apps, not through your Dish box.

Is there a cheaper way to get Paramount Plus with Dish?

Watch for promotional pricing on Paramount Plus itself—sometimes the first few months cost $2.99 instead of the regular price. Dish does not usually discount Paramount Plus below Paramount's own pricing. The cheapest option is the ad-supported plan at $5.99 per month.