Paramount Plus launched on March 4, 2020

Paramount Plus went live on March 4, 2020, as the streaming home for content from ViacomCBS (now Paramount Global). The service started with over 8,500 hours of programming, including shows from CBS, MTV, Nickelodeon, and the Comedy Central library, plus original series made specifically for the platform.

The launch happened during the early weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic, when streaming demand was rising sharply. Paramount positioned the service as a competitor to Netflix, Disney Plus, and HBO Max by bundling familiar television networks into one subscription rather than scattering them across separate apps.

Key Takeaways

  • Paramount Plus launched on March 4, 2020, with over 8,500 hours of content from CBS, MTV, Nickelodeon, and Comedy Central.
  • The service was originally called CBS All Access before being rebranded to Paramount Plus in March 2021.
  • Paramount Plus added live sports in 2022, including NFL games, college football, and golf tournaments.
  • The platform introduced an ad-supported tier in 2022 to offer a lower-cost subscription option alongside its ad-free plan.

CBS All Access became Paramount Plus in 2021

Before the March 2020 launch, ViacomCBS already ran a streaming service called CBS All Access, which had been operating since 2014. CBS All Access focused mainly on CBS television shows, live sports, and some original programming. When Paramount Plus launched, it absorbed CBS All Access content and positioned itself as the larger, company-wide streaming platform.

In March 2021, exactly one year after Paramount Plus launched, ViacomCBS officially retired the CBS All Access name and rebranded all existing CBS All Access subscribers to Paramount Plus. This meant anyone with a CBS All Access account automatically became a Paramount Plus subscriber with access to the expanded library.

The service added live sports starting in 2022

Paramount Plus expanded beyond on-demand shows and movies in 2022 by adding live sports. The platform began streaming NFL games on Thursday nights, college football games, and golf tournaments from the PGA Tour. This move gave the service a reason for people to maintain a subscription year-round rather than signing up only when new shows premiered.

The sports content also set Paramount Plus apart from competitors that did not offer live games. Viewers who wanted to watch Thursday Night Football without cable had to subscribe to Paramount Plus, making sports a key part of the platform's growth strategy.

Paramount Plus introduced cheaper plans with ads in 2022

When Paramount Plus first launched in 2020, it offered only one subscription tier: an ad-free plan. In June 2022, the company introduced a second tier called Paramount Plus with ads, which cost less per month but included advertisements during shows and movies.

This two-tier model matched what Netflix, Disney Plus, and HBO Max had already done. The ad-supported plan made the service more affordable for budget-conscious viewers, while the ad-free tier remained available for those willing to pay more. The pricing for each tier has changed over time, but the option to choose between ads and no ads has remained since 2022.

The platform merged with Pluto TV in 2023

In January 2023, Paramount Global integrated Pluto TV, its free ad-supported streaming service, into the Paramount Plus app. Pluto TV had been operating as a separate service since 2013, offering live channels and on-demand content at no cost. After the merger, Paramount Plus subscribers could access Pluto TV content directly within the Paramount Plus app without switching between services.

This integration gave Paramount Plus users more content options and made the app a single destination for both paid and free programming. Pluto TV remained available as a standalone app for people who did not want to subscribe to Paramount Plus, but the integration simplified things for existing subscribers.

Paramount Plus continues to add content and features

Since its 2020 launch, Paramount Plus has steadily added original series, movies, and live events. The platform has invested in shows like Halo, Star Trek: Discovery, The Offer, and Yellowstone spin-offs to compete with other streaming services. The library has grown from the initial 8,500 hours to tens of thousands of hours of content.

The service also expanded internationally, launching in countries beyond the United States. Paramount Plus now operates in Canada, Latin America, Australia, and parts of Europe, though the content library and pricing vary by region. The platform's growth has made it one of the major streaming competitors alongside Netflix, Disney Plus, and Amazon Prime Video.

Frequently Asked Questions

Was Paramount Plus always called Paramount Plus?

No. The service launched as Paramount Plus on March 4, 2020, but it absorbed the existing CBS All Access service, which had been running since 2014. In March 2021, ViacomCBS rebranded CBS All Access to Paramount Plus, so all CBS All Access subscribers automatically became Paramount Plus subscribers.

Can I watch live sports on Paramount Plus?

Yes. Starting in 2022, Paramount Plus added live NFL games on Thursday nights, college football, and PGA Tour golf. You need an active subscription to watch these live events, though some games may require a higher-tier subscription depending on your region.

Is there a free version of Paramount Plus?

Paramount Plus itself requires a paid subscription, but Pluto TV, which merged into the Paramount Plus app in 2023, offers free ad-supported content. You can access Pluto TV through the Paramount Plus app or as a standalone service without paying for Paramount Plus.

How much content was on Paramount Plus when it launched?

Paramount Plus launched on March 4, 2020, with over 8,500 hours of programming from CBS, MTV, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, and other ViacomCBS networks. The library has grown significantly since then, though the exact current size varies by region.