Paramount+, the streaming service that will replace CBS All Access, will launch March 4. In the last two years, the streaming market has grown increasingly saturated with the additions of Disney+, Peacock, Apple TV+, and HBO Max. Some new services have found more success than others, with Disney+ even exceeding its own expectations. However, the influx of new platforms has made things harder for established streamers like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and others. Among those is CBS All Access, which launched in 2014. Though it's stood out from the pack with its popular Star Trek shows and prestige dramas like The Good Fight, it's largely failed to become a major player in a crowded market.
This likely contributed to the September 2020 announcement CBS All Access would be rebranded to Paramount+. At the time, ViacomCBS President and CEO Bob Bakish said the company was "excited" about the change. It was also revealed ViacomCBS would take a more global approach with Paramount+, showing off the company's "sheer breadth and depth." Thanks to some new information from ViacomCBS, streaming enthusiasts now have a better idea of what that will look like.
Per Variety, Paramount+ will maintain the features of CBS All Access, but add in "dedicated hubs" for shows from ViacomCBS' cable channels Nickelodeon, MTV, BET, and Comedy Central. All told, there will be roughly 30,000 titles available. Paramount+ will launch on March 4 in the U.S. and Latin America. It will then be available in Nordic countries on March 25 and Australia by the middle of 2021. In Canada, CBS All Access will be given the Paramount+ name the same day as the U.S. launch. However, the extra content won't be added until later this year.
Though Paramount+'s features sound exciting, it remains to be seen if it will help CBSViacom make its mark on the streaming field. Though more people are watching content at home than ever before, success is far from guaranteed. For example, in December 2o2o, Quibi shut down after only eight months, though the platform had been criticized since its launch. Its failure proves users aren't a given; if anything, the crowded streaming market has made them even more discerning about which subscriptions they're willing to pay for.
On the other hand, Paramount+ has its existing CBS All Access subscribers, making its launch a little different. Though the rebrand is certainly less splashy than the start of a brand-new streaming service, the new content may be just the thing to entice those on the fence about subscribing to CBS All Access. It also helps Paramount+ will become available after much of the hype surrounding Disney+ and HBO Max has died down. This should help the new platform stand out a little more, hopefully ensuring its success.
Source: Variety