Paramount Plus Premium removes ads from on-demand shows and movies, but not from live TV channels
Paramount Plus Premium (the mid-tier plan) stops ads on recorded content — shows you watch from the library, movies, and past episodes. Live TV channels that come with your plan still show ads, and they always will. This is true whether you watch live sports, news, or entertainment channels. The ad-free promise applies only to the on-demand catalog.
If you want to remove ads from live TV as well, you would need to upgrade to Paramount Plus Premium Plus, the highest tier. That plan removes ads from both on-demand content and live TV. The trade-off is a higher monthly cost.
The reason for this split is how Paramount licenses live TV content. Networks and sports leagues sell live broadcast rights with the understanding that ads will run. Paramount cannot remove those ads without renegotiating contracts with every channel and league, which would raise the price of the service for everyone. On-demand content is different — Paramount owns or controls that licensing more directly, so they can offer an ad-free version.
Key Takeaways
- Paramount Plus Premium removes ads from on-demand shows, movies, and recorded episodes, but live TV channels retain their original ad breaks.
- Live TV ads are built into the broadcast rights Paramount purchases from networks and sports leagues, so they cannot be removed without higher costs.
- Paramount Plus Premium Plus is the only plan that removes ads from both on-demand content and live TV channels.
- The ad-free status of on-demand content is permanent as long as you maintain your Premium subscription.
What counts as on-demand versus live TV on Paramount Plus
On-demand means anything you choose to watch from the library whenever you want. This includes full seasons of shows like The Handmaid's Tale, Yellowstone, and Star Trek: Discovery; movies in the catalog; and past episodes of series that are no longer airing new seasons. All of these play without ads on the Premium plan.
Live TV means the linear channels that broadcast on a schedule, the same way cable TV works. Paramount Plus includes channels like CBS, MTV, BET, Comedy Central, and Nickelodeon if you have a plan that includes live TV. When you tune into one of these channels, you see the same ads that air on cable. You cannot skip them or remove them, even on Premium.
Sports on Paramount Plus also fall under live TV rules. If you watch a live NFL game, college football, or soccer match through the service, ads run during the broadcast. Recorded sports highlights or full-game replays in the on-demand library would be ad-free on Premium, but the live broadcast itself will not be.
The difference between Premium and Premium Plus
Premium removes ads from on-demand content only. You pay a monthly fee and get the full on-demand library without interruption, but you accept ads on live TV.
Premium Plus removes ads from both on-demand and live TV. This is the most expensive plan. It costs more per month than Premium because Paramount has to account for the lost ad revenue from live broadcasts. When you watch a live channel on Premium Plus, you see no ads at all — the broadcast plays clean.
Both plans also include the ability to read shows and movies to watch offline, and both support 4K video on compatible devices. The main difference is the live TV ad removal. If you rarely or never watch live TV, Premium is the better value. If you watch live sports or news regularly, Premium Plus may be worth the extra cost.
Why live TV ads cannot be removed even on the highest tier
Paramount Plus does not own the right to remove ads from live broadcasts. When Paramount buys the right to carry a channel like CBS or MTV, or when it purchases sports rights like NFL games, the contract specifies that ads will air. Networks and leagues depend on that ad revenue as part of the deal. Removing ads would violate the contract and could result in Paramount losing the right to carry that content.
This is different from on-demand content, where Paramount controls the licensing more directly. For a show Paramount produces or owns, it can decide to offer an ad-free version. For live broadcasts, that decision belongs to the network or league, not to Paramount.
Some streaming services like YouTube TV and Hulu Live have the same limitation. Others, like some cable providers, offer premium packages that remove ads from certain channels, but those channels are usually limited and the cost is very high. Paramount's approach — removing ads from on-demand but keeping them on live TV — is standard across the industry.
How to check which plan you have and what ads you should see
Open the Paramount Plus app or website and go to your account settings. Look for "Plan" or "Subscription" — it will show whether you have Premium or Premium Plus. You can also check your billing statement or the confirmation email from when you signed up.
If you have Premium, you should see no ads when you watch on-demand shows and movies. If you see ads on on-demand content, contact Paramount Plus support — it may be a technical issue or a billing problem. Live TV will always show ads on Premium, so that is expected.
If you have Premium Plus, you should see no ads anywhere — not on on-demand content and not on live TV. If ads appear on live TV with Premium Plus, that is also a technical issue worth reporting.
Whether to upgrade from Premium to Premium Plus
The decision depends on how much you watch live TV. If you use Paramount Plus mainly for on-demand shows and movies, Premium is sufficient and saves you money. If you watch live sports, news, or entertainment channels regularly, the ads will interrupt your viewing. Premium Plus removes those interruptions, but at a higher monthly cost.
Consider your actual viewing habits over the past month. Did you watch live TV more than a few times? Do you plan to watch the NFL season, college football, or other live events? If yes, Premium Plus may be worth it. If you mostly watch recorded shows and movies, Premium is the better choice.
You can also test Premium for a month or two and see whether the live TV ads bother you enough to justify the upgrade. Paramount Plus allows you to change your plan at any time, and the change takes effect when ready. If you upgrade mid-month, you will be charged a prorated amount for the remainder of that billing cycle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do ads ever come back on on-demand content if I keep my Premium subscription?
No. As long as you maintain an active Premium or Premium Plus subscription, on-demand content remains ad-free. Ads will not reappear unless you downgrade to a lower plan that includes ads, or if your subscription lapses and you do not renew.
Can I remove ads from live TV by recording it and watching later?
Paramount Plus does not offer a DVR or recording feature for live TV. You can only watch live broadcasts in real time, and ads will play. However, if a network later uploads a recorded version of that broadcast to the on-demand library, you can watch that version ad-free on Premium.
Does Premium Plus remove ads from everything, including sports?
Yes. Premium Plus removes ads from live sports broadcasts as well as live news and entertainment channels. If you watch a live NFL game or soccer match on Premium Plus, you will see no ads during the broadcast.
What happens to ads if I pause or rewind a live TV show?
Ads still play at their scheduled times in the broadcast. Pausing or rewinding does not skip ads on live TV. On-demand content works differently — you can pause, rewind, and fast-forward without ads interrupting, because the ads are not part of the on-demand file.
Is there a way to remove ads from live TV without upgrading to Premium Plus?
No. Live TV ads are part of the broadcast rights agreement and cannot be removed on any plan except Premium Plus. The only other option is to cancel Paramount Plus and use a different service, but most streaming services with live TV have the same limitation.