The evolution of Paramount’s linear and streaming brands is continuing. The linear SHOWTIME channel has relaunched as Paramount+ with SHOWTIME, and now offers some Paramount+ originals like “Halo” alongside SHOWTIME titles like “Billions.” But soon, DIRECTV STREAM customers will have full access to on-demand content from Paramount+!

• Paramount+ with SHOWTIME content is available on DIRECTV STREAM now.
• At an unspecified date in the near future, DIRECTV STREAM customers who subscribed to SHOWTIME will get full access to the Paramount+ app.
• More cable and satellite companies could announce similar deals with Paramount in the near future.

What Does Paramount+ with SHOWTIME Rebrand Mean for DIRECTV Customers?

All DIRECTV, DIRECTV STREAM and AT&T U-Verse customers who already got SHOWTIME delivered as part of their channel package have surely noticed the rebrand by now if they’ve watched the channel this week. SHOWTIME rebranded as Paramount+ with SHOWTIME on Jan. 8, and select titles that were formerly Paramount+ exclusives are playing on the channel live.

A new update from DIRECTV states that its SHOWTIME subscribers will also get full access to the on-demand Paramount+ app at no additional charge. That will allow them to stream all the Paramount+ titles they could possibly want, from “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds” to “NCIS” and everything in between.

To get Paramount+ with SHOWTIME on DIRECTV STREAM as part of your channel package, you’ll have to sign up for its Premier plan (normally $164.99 per month). However, new customers who sign up for any DIRECTV STREAM plan get three months of on-demand access to Paramount+ with SHOWTIME for free, and $25 off their subscription for their first two months of service for a limited time.

Will More Cable Providers Offer Paramount+ with SHOWTIME Free?

On its face, the offering of free Paramount+ with SHOWTIME access to DIRECTV customers is very similar to Disney’s current carriage deal with Charter Communications, which offers Spectrum cable plans. Just last week, in fact, Spectrum TV Select customers first got access to their free ad-supported Disney+ accounts as part of that deal.

The big difference in this instance is that not all DIRECTV STREAM customers will get no-cost access to the on-demand Paramount+ with SHOWTIME app. That’s reserved for customers who were already paying to get the SHOWTIME linear channel, or who sign up for a DIRECTV service that includes that channel in its package.

Still, it’s possible more cable and satellite providers will bundle Paramount+ access going forward. Paramount Global CEO Bob Bakish said in November his company might pursue such deals in the future, as it tries to find the right balance between linear and streaming offerings. Those plans could change if a sale of Paramount is executed in the next few months, but if not users should expect to see it distributed more widely with pay-TV plans in the future.