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Apple today announced it is offering an extended one-month free trial for the Paramount+ streaming service to new users who subscribe within the Apple TV app through June 30, as spotted by The Mac Observer. The offer is valid in the U.S. only.

paramount-plus-apple-tv-app.jpg

Previously known as CBS All Access, Paramount+ provides access to TV shows and movies from ViacomCBS and its various subsidiaries, including CBS, Paramount Pictures, Nickelodeon, MTV, Comedy Central, BET, and others. The streaming service typically offers a seven-day free trial to new users when subscribing directly.

Paramount+ is one of several "Apple TV channels," meaning that users can subscribe to and watch the streaming service in the Apple TV app. Users can also download the Paramount+ app for iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV.


Paramount+ costs $4.99 per month with ads, or $9.99 per month without ads.

Article Link: Apple TV App Offering Extended One-Month Paramount+ Trial Through June
 
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One thing I don't understand is, why can't these networks be free with ads?

For decades broadcast TV was free, and made insane amounts of money with ads. What has changed?
They still are free with ads. I have no problem pulling in CBS through my digital antenna.

But if you want to watch older content, new content they're making specifically for their subscription service, or content on your schedule and not the network's, then they'll ask you to pay for it.
 
If you're an Amazon Prime subscriber, you can get 2 months of Paramount+ (and many other streaming services such as AMC+ and Discovery+) for $1/mo for the first 2 months.

Offer ends June 22.

 
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One thing I don't understand is, why can't these networks be free with ads?

For decades broadcast TV was free, and made insane amounts of money with ads. What has changed?
GREED! People are willing to pay for a streaming service WiTH ADS. When people stop forking over $$$ for ADS the model will change.
 
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One thing I don't understand is, why can't these networks be free with ads?

For decades broadcast TV was free, and made insane amounts of money with ads. What has changed?

they still are. Put up an antenna and watch them with commercials for free. That is what I currently do and the quality is better than streaming.

As for watching content via apps for free with ads. Studios do not own all the broadcasting rights for over the air programming. The individual stations own those rights to broadcast. Any other broadcasting requires rebroadcasting contracts rights negotiated.
 
For decades broadcast TV was free, and made insane amounts of money with ads. What has changed?
For decades, the only way to transmit video efficiently was to send the same signal to everyone. Viewers had no other option but to watch that live signal. It's pretty obvious what has changed.
 
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Still got my Paramount+/Showtime bundle running. But yeah this is cool of them to do. TV Channels over separate apps every day.
 
One thing I don't understand is, why can't these networks be free with ads?

For decades broadcast TV was free, and made insane amounts of money with ads. What has changed?

It's a fair question. But keep in mind, this isn't just the main CBS channel, which you can still get OTA. It also includes all the other CBS-owned channels, which have never been free. Before, with cable, they got carrier fees, plus ad revenue. So I guess the $4.99 replaces the carrier fee, and the $9.99 replaces both that fee and the ads.

Now whether or not it's worth it is certainly up for debate. I paid $60 for a year of limited commercials (which isn't available anymore). I don't think it's worth it. It's probably the worst of the streaming services, though it does have a few shows I like. I'm thinking I'll probably cancel when it's up and then just binge my shows one month a year.
 
One thing I don't understand is, why can't these networks be free with ads?

For decades broadcast TV was free, and made insane amounts of money with ads. What has changed?
Remember Paramount+ includes content you'd find only with a cable subscription. That being said, they should really give us live feeds of MTV, Nick, Comedy Central, and Smithsonian. AMC+ gets it right in this department.
 
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If you're an Amazon Prime subscriber, you can get 2 months of Paramount+ (and many other streaming services such as AMC+ and Discovery+) for $1/mo for the first 2 months.

Offer ends June 22.

Can you only access them through Amazon or will you be able to create a login so that you can use the original apps on the Apple TV?
 
I expect I'll be treating Paramount+ the same way I treated CBS All Access. I'll subscribe for a month, watch what content they have that I'm interested in (which isn't all that much), then unsubscribe. Then a year or two later I'll repeat the process.

Originally I figured I'd do it annually, but Picard is apparently only going to be every other year; and Discovery went downhill fast after season one - so I won't bother subscribing again until 2022. As far as their old properties go, if I care I'll generally buy the DVDs / Blu-Rays and rip them to my home media server. Plex and its brethren are wonderful things.
 
Wanting to keep more of your money for content you create instead of sharing it is greed?

In case you hadn't noticed, more and more people are cutting the cord.



It's a trend that sees no sign of ending any time soon.


In order to reach those viewers, content creators are creating their own service at a much lower price than what you'd pay for cable tv. They wouldn't bother if people didn't actually want and pay for these subscription services.

You get to turn on and off the subscription whenever you please, and you can watch what you want, when you want. Seems like a win to me.



People are willing to pay for a streaming service WiTH ADS. When people stop forking over $$$ for ADS the model will change.
That's probably not going to happen any time soon.

 
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Can you only access them through Amazon or will you be able to create a login so that you can use the original apps on the Apple TV?
From what I understand, you sign up through Amazon, and use the respective app or website to watch.

Amazon is just acting as the middle person by handling the subscription payment (and probably getting a cut of it). The subscription is controlled through your Prime account, so if you want to cancel, you cancel through Prime video channel manager, not with the service.
 
Paramount+ app locks up in iOS 15/iPad OS 15 - and the only way to sign into the Apple TV app is to use the iPhone/iPad app (if you purchased the subscription through Apple). So be warned if you're on the beta and haven't signed into the app already before getting the subscription.
 
Only three things interest me in Paramount+. Picard, StarTrek Discovery, and Yellowstone, none of which are currently streaming new episodes.
I'd like to watch their older movies... stuff from the 1930's and 1940's but they don't make any of that stuff available.
 
One thing I don't understand is, why can't these networks be free with ads?

For decades broadcast TV was free, and made insane amounts of money with ads. What has changed?
At least Paramont+'s 1/2 off discount for ads is in line with Hulu, unlike HBO Max's stingy 1/3 off.

Having said that, I think the correct strategy is bundling of sort, such as Disney Bundle ($13.99/month for $19.97 worth of services) or Peacock Premium bundled into Comcast Internet service. HBO Max is only bundled with high-end AT&T wireless or Internet service, but at least they are trying.

Maybe ViacomCBS can work out a deal with Apple to bundle Paramount+ with ads to subscribers of Apple TV+ or Apple One?
 
I still can't believe they launched Paramount + and it was basically the same thing as CBS All Access. No New User Interface, no Paramount Brand to get excited about (Like all the Mission Impossible Movies or Top Gun, or basically anything Tom Cruise is in) and just very light on content. I get P+ for Star Trek, and I'm looking forward to the new season of Lower Decks, but the app in itself is lacking a lot.
 
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