Last year it was announced that ViacomCBS would be rebranding its CBS All Access streaming service to Paramount Plus in 2021 and now we have an official launch date. The streaming service makeover will take place on March 4, 2021.
The new service will launch on that date in the U.S. and Latin America and ViacomCBS will be hosting a virtual investor presentation on February 24, 2021, to reveal the company's new streaming strategy. CBS All Access has found some success with shows like Star Trek: Discovery and Star Trek: Picard but the plan with Paramount Plus is to fully expand the streaming service. CBS All Access already has live streaming CBS network programming via its 150-plus local affiliates that include NFL Games, original series, and library shows. The relaunch will now feature a dedicated hub for ViacomCBS' cable properties including Nickelodeon, MTV, BET, and Comedy Central. In all, there will be 30,000 titles available at relaunch. At the time the rebrand was announced, CEO Bob Bakish had this to say about the new direction:
"Paramount is an iconic and storied brand beloved by consumers all over the world, and it is synonymous with quality, integrity, and world-class storytelling. With Paramount+, we’re excited to establish one global streaming brand in the broad-pay segment that will draw on the sheer breadth and depth of the ViacomCBS portfolio to offer an extraordinary collection of content for everyone to enjoy."
Original programming will be a top concern for the streamer, offering a mix of scripted, unscripted, and kids’ series. Among the projects in the works is The Offer, a 10-episode scripted limited series from writer-executive producer Michael Tolkin about Al Ruddy’s experience producing The Godfather. CBS All Access added The Godfather trilogy to its catalog in the summer of 2020 but will share the films with NBCUniversal's Peacock, which will up the streaming exposure for the classic titles through a sizable licensing deal with ViacomCBS that gives it the rights for a limited exclusive window from 2021 to 2023.
CBS TV Studios and Grammnet Productions are also developing a revival of Mara Brock Akil's sitcom The Game, which ran for nine seasons on The CW and BET and now streams on Netflix, as part of BET’s programming on the streamer. There was talk of bringing The Game back via The CW but the network passed on the proposed pilot. It looks like the new Paramount+ is where it will find the right home. Also on deck is a Taylor Sheridan spy drama called Lioness. The show follows a young Marine recruited to befriend the daughter of a terrorist in order to bring the organization down.
Paramount Plus will launch in the Nordics on March 25, 2021, and in Australia by mid-year. The Canadian version of CBS All Access will also rebrand as Paramount Plus on March 4, 2021, but they won't get the expanded content lineup until later in the year.
Do YOU already have CBS All Access? Will YOU be adding Paramount Plus to your streaming content?