Streaming service review: Paramount+ (2023 edition)
I last looked at Paramount+ back in 2021, not long after it was revamped from its former identity, CBS All Access. Since then, there’s been a number of changes to the home of “Star Trek,” “SpongeBob,” and “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” Here’s an updated look at what I think of Paramount+, and whether it’s more than just “the ‘Star Trek’ and ‘SpongeBob’ service.” Prices below are as of this writing (October 2023).
Pros of Paramount+
It’s inexpensive
Paramount+ as of this writing costs $6/month (or $60/year) for the ad-supported tier, or $12/month (or $120/year) for the ad-free tier.
At $6, the ad-containing version of Paramount+ is one of the cheapest major streaming services available. Meanwhile, it’s $7 for Apple TV+ and (ad-based) Netflix, $9 for Amazon Prime, or $10 for Max. It does run the same price as Peacock.
At $12, the premium tier is cheaper than the standard-issue ad-free version of Netflix ($15.50), Hulu without ads ($18), or Max without ads ($16), though it’s more than the $11/month Disney+-without-ads runs. Again, it’s the same price as ad-free Peacock.
The Paramount library in one spot
Until Paramount+ came along, much of the Paramount (formerly ViacomCBS) library was scattered on other services or unavailable for streaming. While some of this is still true (more on that below), the Paramount+ rebranding (as well as Paramount’s 2019 acquisition of the free ad-supported service Pluto TV) has changed things.
Under Paramount+, much of the Paramount library is available on the same service. The major categories offered on the service are:
BET. A mix of current and older BET/African American starring comedies and dramas are available. These include popular 90s and 00s Black sitcoms like "Sister, Sister," "Moesha," and "Half and Half."
CBS. Much of the current and older CBS library is here, from classics like "I Love Lucy" and the "Star Trek" franchise to "NCIS" and "Young Sheldon." (However, the latter's predecessor show, "The Big Bang Theory," is on Max.) CBS News programming's also available, including "CBS Sunday Morning" and "60 Minutes."
Comedy Central. Most current and classic Comedy Central fare is offered here, including "The Daily Show," "Reno 911," and the “Beavis and Butt-Head” reboot. While there’s a few “South Park” specials here, the actual series is licensed to Max until 2025, when it’ll move to Paramount+.
MTV. Despite the label, this category includes current and former MTV and VH1 programs. MTV favorites from “Jersey Shore” to “Beavis and Butt-Head” (again) to “Daria” to “Teen Wolf” are here. You’ll also find (from VH1) “RuPaul’s Drag Race” and its spin-offs. Paramount+ also finally added the 2000s Logo dramedy “Noah’s Arc.”
Nickelodeon. "SpongeBob SquarePants" is available in its entirety, as well as its spin-off “Kamp Koral.” (Oddly, “SpongeBob”’s other spin-off, “The Patrick Star Show,” isn’t available.) This category also contains Nick’s other current hits "Paw Patrol" and "The Loud House." Most of the major classic Nick fare is also available: "Rocko's Modern Life"; "The Angry Beavers"; "Rugrats" (the original and 2021 reboot); and, to my surprise, "You Can't Do That on Television," the channel's first major hit in the 80s.
Smithsonian Channel. Lots of documentaries on various topics, from nature to the Kennedy administration to the development of the 747 jumbo jet.
Movies. Some of the Paramount film library is available, including the “Mission: Impossible,” “Indiana Jones,” and “Top Gun” films.
Showtime. The long-time pay TV channel; more on this below.
BET, CBS, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, and Smithsonian Channel are listed as colored category tiles on the main Paramount+ web page. Showtime and movies are given a text-based menu option, as well as mixed in with various minor category suggestions, from “Popular Docuseries” (documentaries) to “Peak Screaming” (horror films). At this point, Showtime should really also have a category tile, for reasons shown below.
Showtime included (at the premium tier)
The longtime pay TV channel (and HBO rival) Showtime was formally merged into Paramount+ earlier this year, and is available at the $12/month tier. Subscribers will get the full current and classic Showtime library, from “Billions” to “Yellowjackets” to the 2000s US version of “Queer as Folk.”
As a bonus, the traditional Showtime cable channel is also offered as a live stream, with both the east and west coast versions available.
While I was never a big Showtime viewer, this is a pretty decent offering, and helps make Paramount+ more competitive with other streaming services.
Live CBS, CBS News, and CBS sports streaming
On the ad-free tier, Paramount+ offers live streaming of your local CBS affiliate, as well as the free CBS News streaming service (formerly known as CBSN). There’s also a section of “channels” streaming various themed programming (“SpongeBob,” reality shows, “RuPaul,” etc.). On both the ad-free and ad-based tiers, Paramount+ also carries CBS’ NFL broadcasts.
For those without cable or over-the-air access to CBS, this feature is useful if one wants live events, such as NFL football or other sports, or one’s local CBS affiliate programming.
Cons of Paramount+
Fewer major franchises versus its rivals
Paramount is certainly a major media conglomerate, but not one the same size as Disney or Warner Bros. As of October 11, 2023, Paramount’s market cap (the value of a company’s stock) is $8 billion, according to Google; meanwhile, Disney’s market cap is valued at $155 billion, while Warner Bros. Discovery’s is at $27 billion.
As such, Paramount doesn't own as many major franchises as their competitors: no major superheroes like Superman or Spider-Man (though they do own the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Mighty Mouse, plus have the rights to “Paw Patrol”); fewer major movie franchises (outside of "Mission: Impossible,” “Transformers,” and "Indiana Jones"); "Star Trek," while still popular, is less so these days versus longtime rival franchise "Star Wars"; and while SpongeBob's possibly the most popular cartoon character created in the past few decades, he's still not fully on par with Mickey Mouse or Bugs Bunny.
Still, Paramount+ does make the most of what they do own. While “Star Trek” is still heavily promoted on the service (the animated spin-off “Lower Decks” is currently featured in the main header), other material is also advertised. The main header currently features: the aforementioned “Lower Decks”: CBS reality shows “Survivor” and “The Amazing Race”; Showtime series “Billions”; a horror film category (for Halloween); and several Paramount+ Originals, including the “Fraiser” revival.
Some missing content
Some content isn’t available on Paramount+. This includes some material Paramount purged from Paramount+ as a cost-cutting measure (thanks for the “inspiration,” Max), such as “Star Trek: Prodigy” (now on Netflix) and a “Grease” prequel.
That said, there’s been some back catalog material added to Paramount+ lately. Said material includes shows I previously noted were missing, such as “Loud House” spin-off “The Casagrandes” or the aforementioned “Noah’s Arc.”
Paramount+ is competing with itself (via Pluto TV)
Some Paramount material is also available elsewhere, probably as a legacy of the CBS All Access days/the company’s history (under its previous name, Viacom) of syndicating material elsewhere. Hulu, for instance, still has some older seasons of CBS shows like “The Amazing Race” and “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” BET+ also still exists, despite Paramount+ replicating most of its shows under its BET category. And Amazon Prime Video carries some Nickelodeon shows, including the first six seasons of “SpongeBob.”
However, one major service with Paramount content is one Paramount itself owns: Pluto TV. Pluto's a live streaming service that offers "channels" much like a basic cable lineup; said "channels" are largely of Paramount-owned material, such as "Nick on Pluto," "Logo on Pluto," or channels that air nothing but a single show ("Mystery Science Theater 3000," "America’s Test Kitchen,” etc.). While Pluto has a small on-demand selection of movies and TV shows, it's largely live streaming based. But that doesn't seem to have affected its popularity: Pluto TV currently has 80 million users, versus Paramount+ totaling about 61 million users.
Who should use Paramount+?
Overall, Paramount+ is best for the following users:
"Star Trek" fans, especially ones who want the modern spin-offs and revivals such as “Lower Decks” or “Picard.”
“Yellowstone” fans (though they’ll also want Peacock).
Nickelodeon fans.
CBS fans.
BET fans who don’t want to shell out for BET+.
Fans of reality show franchises such as “RuPaul’s Drag Race” or “Survivor.”
Those who want live streaming of CBS for live events such as sports, and can't
get CBS over-the-air or through other means.Similarly, fans of certain sports leagues carried by CBS (several soccer leagues such as UEFA and NWSL, etc.)
Paramount movie buffs.
Paramount+ has improved since its launch in 2021, fixing some of the initial criticisms I had. However, I still view it as a secondary service, versus a primary one like Netflix or Max. That said, while Paramount+ isn’t a must-have service (or a “Netflix killer”), it is an inexpensive and worthwhile one, with an ample amount of content. It’s possibly worth considering, even if you couldn’t care less about Vulcans or talking sea sponges.
Image: "Monster High 2" on the main Paramount+ page. (Paramount+ / screenshot by author)