Paramount+ Now Available for Free for Spectrum Cable Customers
Paramount+ Now Available for Free for Spectrum Cable Customers
Charter Communications is continuing to add free access to on-demand streaming services for its Spectrum customers.
Charter Communications is continuing to make deeper relationships with on-demand streaming providers. The company announced on Thursday that it has made a new deal with Paramount Global, allowing customers of its cable packages to sign up for the Paramount+ Essential plan for free. Viewers can sign up for those Paramount+ accounts now, and enjoy on-demand access to shows like “Evil,” “Criminal Minds,” “Mayor of Kingstown,” “1923,” and much more.
Key Details:
- Paramount+ Essential is a $7.99 per month value, but Spectrum customers can get it free now.
- Free Paramount+ accounts are available for Spectrum TV Select customers and Mi Plan Latino subscribers.
- Spectrum TV also gives access to free Disney+ and ViX Premium accounts.
The Paramount+ Essential plan offers ad-supported access to the entire Paramount+ library. In addition to on-demand 40,000 TV episodes and thousands of movies, it carries live sports like NFL football games in local markets on Sunday afternoons, and UEFA Champions League soccer. The plan costs $7.99 per month normally, but Spectrum TV Select and Mi Plan Latino subscribers can get it for free.
If you’re a Spectrum TV customer, click here to sign up for your free Paramount+ account.
“By including Paramount+ Essential with our Spectrum TV Select and Mi Plan Latino packages at no extra cost, we are continuing to provide greater value for our video customers,” Charter EVP Tom Montemagno said. “This partnership not only enhances the viewing experience with access to top-rated original content and live sports, but it also creates new distribution opportunities for Paramount and is a significant step towards building a healthier video ecosystem that benefits both our customers and the industry as a whole.”
The access to Paramount+ comes as part of a new carriage deal between Spectrum TV and Paramount. It ensures that Paramount-owned channels such as CBS, MTV, Comedy Central, and Paramount Network will remain available on Spectrum TV plans for years to come.
“Paramount and Charter have a long-shared commitment to deliver more ways for audiences to enjoy their favorite premium content as the media landscape continues to evolve,” Paramount’s president of U.S. networks distribution Ray Hopkins said. “We look forward to expanding our reach and engagement with Spectrum subscribers through the addition of Paramount+ Essential for the first time, a broad household offering with something for everyone across our leading portfolio of news, sports and entertainment programming.”
What Other Streaming Services Has Charter Given Its Customers Access To?
Paramount+ is just the latest streaming service to become available free to Spectrum TV customers. The cabler got the ball rolling in that regard last year, when it pressured Disney into granting viewers free access to Disney+’s ad-supported streaming plan as part of a new carriage deal. When the new ESPN streaming service under construction at Disney launches next year, some Spectrum TV customers will also get access to that streamer at no cost.
Earlier this summer, Spectrum customers were also granted access to the Spanish-language streaming service ViX Premium with Ads. These deals are mutually beneficial; Charter gets to show its customers that it’s offering them added value with their cable plans, and actively trying to save them the hassle of essentially paying for the same content twice. Streaming providers like Disney and Paramount get a wholesale rate for the new subscribers they get from Charter, and they still make ad revenues from the new viewers as well.
Paramount CEO Bob Bakish said in November that he was keeping an eye out for partnerships like the new Spectrum deal. Bakish has been out as CEO since spring, as Paramount works through various merger and acquisition opportunities. But it appears his desire to bundle Paramount+ alongside cable packages was shared by Paramount’s current decision-makers.
Paramount Plus
Paramount+ is a subscription video streaming service that includes on-demand access to 40,000+ TV show episodes from BET, CBS, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, Nick Jr. and more. Get free access with a Walmart+ subscription.
Paramount+ includes “1883,” “Tulsa King,” “Star Trek: Discovery,” “SpongeBob SquarePants,” and “PAW Patrol.” Subscribers can watch the NFL, college football, The Masters, college basketball, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa, Serie A, and NWSL. The service also offers the option to watch your live CBS affiliate. The upgraded ad-free package includes premium movies and shows from Showtime.