The new streaming platform will be launched on March 4 in the US, LatAm and Canada. “ViacomCBS distinguishes itself as the only company that fully encompasses all streaming segments,” said President and CEO, Bob Bakish.
This Wednesday, ViacomCBS presented its streaming strategy to investors, which involves creating an interlocking ecosystem, combining existing products with the expected launch of Paramount+ on March 4.
On that day, the new direct-to-consumer service will reach the US, Canada and 18 countries in Latin America. Then, on March 25, it will land in the Nordic countries, while it will arrive in Australia later this year with a rebranding and expansion of 10 All Access. Other markets will be announced soon.
The price of the subscription will vary slightly depending on the market, but ViacomCBS assured that “Paramount+ will be available to international audiences at an attractive price.”
Paramount+ will offer the robust product collection from the entertainment giant’s free, premium and paid catalog, which also has services like Pluto TV or Showtime OTT.
As explained, the new platform will feature a powerful combination of live sports, 24-hour news and a “mountain” of entertainment from ViacomCBS, with a portfolio of brands and production studios known worldwide, including BET, CBS, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, Paramount Pictures and the Smithsonian Channel.
The catalog will feature more than 30,000 episodes, 2,500 films and 1,000 live sporting events, as well as 24-hour news.
“In today’s entertainment landscape, ViacomCBS distinguishes itself as the only company that fully encompasses all streaming segments across the free, premium and paid divisions,” said Bob Bakish, president and CEO of ViacomCBS.
“The launch of Paramount+ fuels our strategy with a comprehensive payment service that will host everything consumers love, in one place: live sports, news and a ‘mountain’ of entertainment. As we look to the future, ViacomCBS is ideally positioned to harness the full power of our assets and capabilities, from our production studios, to the value of our vast library of content, to our global marketing platform and local relationships; all to take advantage of the global streaming opportunity.”
Tom Ryan, President and CEO of ViacomCBS Streaming, added: “Built on an iconic portfolio of beloved brands and franchises like SpongeBob SquarePants and Star Trek, Paramount+ is an engaging and differentiated streaming offering for all audiences. In combination with Pluto TV and Showtime, the service will further strengthen our robust streaming ecosystem, giving us a significant competitive advantage as we pursue our goal of reaching consumers across all platforms, at all prices, with creativity, content, and experiences that are second to none.”
INTERNATIONAL LAUNCH
The arrival of Paramount+ in Latin America, Canada, the Nordic countries and Australia -plus the markets to come- represents an essential part of ViacomCBS’ comprehensive streaming strategy.
In addition to being available online at ParamountPlus.com, through the Paramount+ app and a number of connected TV devices and OTT platforms, the service will have a wide distribution on the main platforms in international markets, including: Claro Video, Mercado Libre, Izzi and Claro Brasil in Latin America; and Nuuday, Telenor and Allente in the Nordic countries.
“With production capacity on five continents, strong distribution agreements, local relationships and experience around the world, Paramount+ will leverage ViacomCBS’s global reach (including its worldwide broadcasts) to drive the growth of streaming and its international expansion”, they assured from the company.
ViacomCBS Networks International (VCNI) will take advantage of the momentum generated by its formats, and its role as one of the world’s leading producers of content in Spanish, to bring exclusive series to market that include children’s and family content, dramas, reality shows and much more.
But in addition, through ViacomCBS International Studios (VIS), a division of ViacomCBS Networks International, premium local dramas will also premiere on the service.
The company announced that two of its previously announced fiction series will be released in Latin America: Los enviados, a supernatural thriller co-produced with the Oscar-winning director and screenwriter, Juan José Camapanella; and Cecilia, dramedy by renowned Argentine writer and director Daniel Burnman, starring the acclaimed Mexican actress Mariana Trevino.
Additionally, in selected international markets, Paramount+ will offer audiences exclusive original titles that will include The Man Who Fell to Earth, Mayor of Kingstown, Guilty Party, Halo and The Offer, among others; an extensive content library with more than 5,000 hours of iconic ViacomCBS properties; successful franchises of all genres; and a premium user experience.
For most international subscribers, Paramount+ will also be the home of Showtime and will feature well-known series such as Dexter, Ray Donovan, The Affair, Your Honor, The Comedy Rule and Escape at Dannemora.
And, as in the US, internationally Paramount + will offer some of the most important franchises for children in the world, including SpongeBob, The Ninja Turtles, Dora the Explorer and The Paw Patrol, in addition to the long-awaited Kamp Koral and Nick Animation Studio’s.
It will also have premieres of award-winning formats that include some of MTV’s most famous reality TV franchises such as: Acapulco Shore and Are you the one?: Brazil in Latin America; Story of Songs in the Nordic countries; and an extensive catalog of successful reality shows such as Jersey Shore, Ex on the Beach or Catfish, among others, which will be available in Latin America, the Nordic countries and Australia.
