Paramount+ streaming: what US viewers get in 2026

Paramount+ brings franchises like Star Trek and the NFL together with live news and local CBS stations in a single streaming app for US households.

Paramount+ is Paramount Global's direct-to-consumer streaming service, launched in the United States in March 2021 as a rebrand of CBS All Access and now positioned as one of the main subscription video platforms in the US streaming market Paramount+, 03/04/2021.

As of: 06/10/2026 | Reading time: approx. 8 minutes

By the AD HOC NEWS editorial team - specialized in product-focused market coverage.

At a Glance

• Product: Paramount+
• Category: Subscription video streaming service
• Brand/Manufacturer: Paramount Global
• Primary Use Cases: On-demand shows, movies, live sports, news
• Availability: Streaming across the United States via app and web
• Core Markets: United States, Latin America, select European markets

What Paramount+ Is and How It Works

Paramount+ is a subscription-based streaming platform that combines on-demand series, movies, originals, and live programming, including live news and sports, inside a single app accessible on smart TVs, mobile devices, game consoles, and web browsers Paramount+, 03/04/2021.

The service grew out of CBS All Access, which first brought CBS network shows and live local stations to internet streaming before being expanded and rebranded as Paramount+ with new content hubs for brands such as Nickelodeon, MTV, BET, Comedy Central, and Smithsonian Channel Paramount, 02/24/2021.

In the United States, Paramount+ offers multiple content rows inside the app, including dedicated sections for CBS, Paramount Pictures films, and original series like Star Trek Discovery and Star Trek Strange New Worlds, alongside licensed movies and kids content curated by age ratings CBS News, 03/03/2021.

Why Paramount+ Matters for US Consumers and Industry

For US households, Paramount+ functions as a bridge between traditional broadcast and modern on-demand viewing by carrying live feeds of local CBS stations in many markets alongside a deep library of network shows such as NCIS and Survivor, as well as news coverage from CBS News CNET, 03/03/2021.

Live sports are an important part of the service's appeal in the US, with Paramount+ carrying NFL games that air on CBS, UEFA Champions League soccer coverage, and other league rights as part of its integrated live TV and on-demand offering inside the subscription tiers CBS Sports, 02/24/2021.

From an industry perspective, Paramount+ is one of several major studio-backed services, giving Paramount Global a direct-to-consumer outlet for franchises like Star Trek, SpongeBob SquarePants, Yellowstone universe spin-offs, and Paramount Pictures films as theater-to-streaming windows continue to evolve in the US market New York Times, 03/04/2021.

Paramount+ in the US and Global Market

In the United States, Paramount+ competes directly with services such as Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, Max, and Peacock, making differentiation through live sports, news, and recognizable franchises like Star Trek and Nickelodeon brands a core part of its positioning to attract and retain subscribers Wall Street Journal, 03/04/2021.

Paramount+ also operates internationally in regions including Latin America and parts of Europe, often bundled with local content or combined with Showtime offerings in some markets, while in the US it integrates Showtime programming under the Paramount+ with Showtime umbrella within the app for eligible subscribers Paramount, 08/29/2022.

Distribution deals with connected TV platforms, mobile carriers, and pay TV providers in the United States help bring the Paramount+ app onto devices like Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, and smart TVs, while also positioning it as an add-on channel within some US pay TV and streaming bundles TechCrunch, 03/04/2021.

• On-demand series and movies, including Paramount Pictures titles
• Live local CBS stations in supported US markets
• Live sports such as NFL on CBS and UEFA soccer
• CBS News and entertainment specials
• Kids and family content from Nickelodeon and related brands

Frequently Asked Questions About Paramount+

Does Paramount+ include live CBS channels in the US?
In many US markets, Paramount+ offers a live stream of the local CBS station as part of its plans, alongside on-demand content inside the same app CBS News, 03/03/2021.

What devices support Paramount+ in the United States?
Paramount+ is available through apps on major streaming devices like Roku and Fire TV, mobile operating systems, game consoles, and web browsers for US subscribers Paramount+, 03/04/2021.

Is Showtime content available in Paramount+?
In the US, Showtime programming is included within certain Paramount+ with Showtime plans, integrating premium series and films into the main app experience Paramount, 01/30/2023.

Paramount+, as a consumer streaming product, is operated by Paramount Global, a US-based media and entertainment company that owns brands such as CBS, Paramount Pictures, Nickelodeon, MTV, and Comedy Central as part of its portfolio.

Paramount Global is listed on US exchanges, with the ISIN US92556H2067 identifying one of the share classes associated with the company as the issuer behind the Paramount+ streaming service.

Disclaimer: This article does not constitute investment advice. Stocks are volatile financial instruments.