Paramount+

The new kid on the block

I can already hear what you’re thinking: “Oh great, another streaming service.” Ordinarily, I’d agree with you. But, after using Paramount+ for the last couple of days, I’m reminded why I’m a fan of streaming services in the first place. I’ve got a few complaints, and I’ll make sure to mention them. However, regardless of those complaints, this could be a contender to some of the bigger hitters out there.

Nostalgia

We all know the feeling we got when we downloaded Disney+ for the first time in the Fall of 2019. The lineup was incredible; it had vaulted shows from even the oldest of Disney’s content (Mickey’s A Christmas Carol, anyone)? That incredible feeling of seeing my favorite old shows was the same feeling I got downloading Paramount Plus.

There’s Drake and Josh, The Fairly OddParents, Jimmy Neutron, SpongeBob, the list goes on.

Remember that fever dream where Nickelodeon made a spinoff for Jimmy Neutron called “Planet Sheen?” Nah, me neither.

For me, nostalgia is one of the most important factors when it comes to the success of a streaming service. If you can successfully monetize and deliver a backlog of older content while producing original content, you’ve got a hit on your hand. That’s exactly what Paramount+ seems to be doing.

What else besides SpongeBob?

I’m so glad you asked. Paramount+ isn’t called that just cause it sounds cool. Under the Paramount umbrella, there is a library of over 2500 movies. This includes movies like the Indiana Jones series and The Godfather movies.

Additionally, Paramount is part of ViacomCBS, so Paramount+ is actually a merger of CBS All Access, a previously existing streaming service. That means that you’re getting all of the CBS content, too. There are many popular TV shows on there, not to mention the live news and content that comes with it. I wouldn’t be surprised if, in February 2022, the Super Bowl is on Paramount+. They’re already putting the Grammy’s on there.

So, what are the downsides?

Well, the real downsides come with the fact that there is a slight lack of content. The Paramount Network is so large, and while it does own some shows like The Big Bang Theory or South Park (through Comedy Central, another Viacom property, those shows are not on the service due to licensing agreements. They can show that content on their channels, but other streaming services own the rights. That is disappointing, but ultimately with what you’re getting, I don’t find it to be too bad. They do have the Roast of Charlie Sheen if that’s a consolation.

What’s the point?

Paramount+ represents both a rebrand of CBS All Access and a new entry into the overflowing streaming market. It does a good job of making its stake, and for $4.99 for the ad-supported version (or $9.99 for the ad-free), I think it does so at a compelling price. It does need to make a few improvements to the library while keeping the content they have. They do have a decent amount riding on riding on the original content they bring, too; we’ve all seen how well Disney+ has done with WandaVision and The Mandalorian.

Ultimately, I think it’s a great option in its current state, and I think it will continue to improve as time goes on. I’ll continue to have it in my library of streaming services, which seems to be a quickly filling library.