After the events of this summer, it would seem surprising to hear that BET+ is aligning itself more closely with other Paramount Global properties. But that’s exactly what the smaller streaming service is preparing to do. The move is the latest that leaves room for speculation about the future of Paramount itself.

• BET+ is shifting a large number of its original movies to Pluto TV, marking the first time they will be available to stream for free.
• Paramount Global attempted to sell BET Media Group this summer, but could not find a buyer to meet its price.
• The shift could mean that Paramount is positioning BET+ as a more crucial part of its business going forward.

Which Movies are Shifting to Pluto TV from BET+?

According to CableFax, BET+ is shifting a big collection of original movies to its corporate sibling streamer Pluto TV. This will be the first time those movies will be available to stream for free at any outlet, and they’ll be on Pluto TV until April 2024.

The films will be available on two dedicated free ad-supported TV (FAST) channels, the BET and BET Her channels. Additionally, these titles will stream on several of Pluto’s established movie channels, including Black Cinema Pluto TV Thrillers, Pluto TV Drama, and others.

The titles coming to Pluto TV from BET+ include: “Bid for Love,” “Big 50: The Delrhonda Hood Story,” “North of the 10” and “Fruits of the Heart.” Holiday titles will also be a part of the lineup, including “A Christmas Surprise,” “A Rich Christmas,” “The Christmas Clapback” and “Soul Santa.”

Does This Mean BET+ is Sticking With Paramount for the Long Haul?

The move to add BET+ content to Pluto TV would not normally generate any speculation on the future of the two outlets. After all, Paramount Global owns them both, so it seems perfectly natural for the content of one streaming service to shift to another given that they’re under the same corporate umbrella.

What makes the shift a bit more discussion-worthy is the fact that this year, Paramount tried to sell BET, BET+ and the other holdings that make up BET Media Group. Multiple bidders expressed interest, including Tyler Perry (who already owns a minority stake in BET Media Group), Byron Allen, and others, but ultimately Paramount decided to hold onto BET after not receiving a high enough bid.

Shifting BET+ movies to Pluto TV is at least an indication that Paramount won’t reverse its decision to hold onto the streamer in the short term. Whether it has any longer-term implications is tough to say; Paramount itself is reportedly for sale at the right price, and it may have decided that any potential buyers will see BET as an asset that would smooth the way toward a potential acquisition.