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— CH. 1 · THE LIVE STREAM LAUNCH —

Paramount+

~3 min read · Ch. 1 of 6
6 sections
  • On the 28th of October 2014, CBS Corporation introduced a new service called CBS All Access. This platform marked the first over-the-top offering from an American broadcast television network. The initial focus was not on movies or exclusive dramas but on live streaming local CBS affiliates. Subscribers could watch their local news and sports in real time across 194 markets covering 92% of the United States. The pricing model offered two tiers: $5.99 per month with advertising and $9.99 without ads. By the 7th of April 2015, the service became available on Roku devices, followed by Chromecast support in May of that year. Early adoption numbers remained modest as the company tested the waters of direct-to-consumer broadcasting.

  • In November 2015, CBS announced plans to expand into original programming for the first time. Alex Kurtzman produced a new Star Trek series titled Star Trek: Discovery which premiered in September 2017. This launch drove the largest single-day increase in subscribers since the Grammy Awards. The Good Fight served as the first original drama on the platform, debuting in February 2017 before Discovery arrived. Big Brother: Over the Top began airing in September 2016 as a reality spin-off season. These early experiments proved that exclusive content could drive significant subscriber growth beyond simple library access. By January 2019, the service reported its largest weekend increase in subscribers following the premiere of Discovery's second season.

  • On the 4th of March 2021, CBS All Access officially rebranded as Paramount+. This change coincided with the inclusion of content from Viacom brands like Nickelodeon and Comedy Central. The new name honored Paramount Pictures while signaling a broader entertainment portfolio. Plans to add films from Paramount Pictures began in May 2020 with over 100 titles added immediately. The rebrand also integrated Showtime content starting in August 2022 through a combined subscription tier priced at $11.99 per month with ads. By the 14th of December 2023, the standalone Showtime Anytime app was discontinued to encourage migration to the unified platform. The transition marked a strategic pivot from a niche cable alternative to a major streaming competitor.

  • International rollouts began in April 2018 when Canada received the first expansion outside the United States. Australia launched a version called 10 All Access on the 4th of December 2018, leveraging Network 10 programming. The service entered the United Kingdom and Ireland on the 21st of June 2022, available via Amazon Prime Video and as a standalone app. France and German-speaking Switzerland joined the global network in late 2022, with Germany following shortly after. Japan received its own hub on the 15th of November 2023, operating through J:COM and Wowow platforms. Some regions like the Nordics saw their local versions replaced by SkyShowtime, a joint venture with Comcast, beginning in September 2022. These efforts demonstrated a complex strategy of partnerships rather than direct launches everywhere.

  • In November 2019, CBS acquired streaming rights to the UEFA Champions League for European soccer matches. This deal replaced Turner Sports and covered seasons running through 2023-24 before extending until 2030. The platform also secured rights to the National Women's Soccer League and CONCACAF competitions. A major milestone arrived on the 11th of August 2025, when Paramount bought exclusive U.S. broadcast rights to UFC events for an estimated $7.7 billion over seven years. Starting in 2026, all UFC mainline events would stream exclusively on Paramount+. World Rugby signed a multi-year agreement in May 2025 making the service the home for men's and women's World Rugby events through 2029. These deals transformed the platform from a general entertainment hub into a sports powerhouse.

  • By February 2017, CBS All Access had nearly 1.5 million subscribers. That number grew to over 2 million by early 2018 following the Discovery premiere. December 2020 saw the service reach around 8 million subscribers globally. After the rebranding to Paramount+, numbers surged rapidly. By March 2022, the platform hit 43.3 million subscribers. The count reached 79 million paid memberships by March 2025, placing it among the top ten most-subscribed video on demand services worldwide. In 2021, combined subscriptions for Paramount+ and Showtime totaled 36 million across all platforms. These figures reflect aggressive marketing and content expansion strategies that prioritized scale over niche audiences.

Common questions

When did CBS All Access launch and what was its initial focus?

CBS Corporation introduced the service on the 28th of October 2014 with an initial focus on live streaming local CBS affiliates. Subscribers could watch their local news and sports in real time across 194 markets covering 92% of the United States.

What date did CBS All Access officially rebrand to Paramount+?

CBS All Access officially rebranded as Paramount+ on the 4th of March 2021. This change coincided with the inclusion of content from Viacom brands like Nickelodeon and Comedy Central.

Which countries received international rollouts for Paramount+ after the United States?

International rollouts began in April 2018 when Canada received the first expansion outside the United States. Australia launched a version called 10 All Access on the 4th of December 2018, while the United Kingdom and Ireland joined on the 21st of June 2022.

How much did Paramount pay for exclusive U.S. broadcast rights to UFC events?

Paramount bought exclusive U.S. broadcast rights to UFC events for an estimated $7.7 billion over seven years starting in 2026. World Rugby also signed a multi-year agreement in May 2025 making the service the home for men's and women's World Rugby events through 2029.

When did Paramount+ reach 79 million paid memberships globally?

The count reached 79 million paid memberships by March 2025, placing it among the top ten most-subscribed video on demand services worldwide. This growth followed rapid surges after the rebranding to Paramount+ which saw numbers jump from 8 million subscribers in December 2020.

All sources

217 references cited across the entry

  1. 8webNew way to watch CBS shows, for $6 a monthBrian Stlter et al. — October 16, 2014
  2. 10newsCord-Cutters Rejoice: CBS Joins Web StreamEmily Steel — October 16, 2014
  3. 11webCBS All Access launches on Roku with live streaming and VODRoberto Baldwin — AOL — April 7, 2015
  4. 15newsFive Gray TV Stations Launch CBS All AccessMalone, Michael — April 22, 2015
  5. 17webCBS All Access Expands AccessWinslow, George — July 16, 2015
  6. 18webHulu holdout CBS launches on-demand and live streamingEllingson, Annlee — October 16, 2014
  7. 19newsCBS Will Live-Stream NFL Games On Its 'All Access' SVOD ServiceBrian Steinberg — December 1, 2016
  8. 24web'Star Trek Discovery' Fuels Record Signups For CBS All AccessAnthony D'Alessandro — September 25, 2017
  9. 27webIntroducing 10 All AccessNetwork 10 — October 31, 2018
  10. 36newsViacomCBS Set to Beef Up All Access Streaming ServiceJon Lafayette — Future US — February 6, 2020
  11. 42webCBS All Access to Rebrand as Paramount Plus Early Next YearCynthia Littleton — September 15, 2020
  12. 43webParamount Plus to Launch March 4 in U.S. and Latin AmericaCynthia Littleton — January 19, 2021
  13. 53webStreaming's Battle of the Bundles Era BeginsAlex Weprin — September 1, 2022
  14. 56webParamount+ To Be Bundled With Walmart+ SubscriptionsDade Hayes — August 15, 2022
  15. 57webQantas adds Paramount+David Knox — August 18, 2022
  16. 75webHBO Max and Paramount+ Will Become One StreamerTony Maglio — March 2, 2026
  17. 77newsParamount+ UK Will Be An Amazon Prime Video ChannelOr Goren — cordbusters — June 1, 2022
  18. 84newsParamount+ Sets U.K., Korea, Europe, India Launch DatesNaman Ramachandran — May 3, 2022
  19. 91webCBS All Access Reports 2.5 Million SubscribersMichael Malone — August 6, 2018
  20. 93webParamount Plus to Launch March 4 in U.S. and Latin AmericaCynthia Littleton — January 19, 2021
  21. 108webNew 'Star Trek' Series to Air on CBS All Access in 2017Whitney Friedlander — November 2, 2015
  22. 111web'Big Brother': New Season Coming To CBS All Access This FallNellie Andreeva — August 2, 2016
  23. 121web'Halo' TV Series Moves From Showtime To Paramount+Nellie Andreeva — February 24, 2021
  24. 143newsCBS's streaming service CBS All Access gains moviesSarah Perez — 17 April 2017
  25. 144press releaseCBS All Access Adds More Than 100 Films From Paramount PicturesCBS All Access — May 7, 2020
  26. 152webViacom launches Paramount+ SVOD service in HungaryAndrew McDonald — December 4, 2018
  27. 154webParamount+ debuts in RussiaChris Dziadul — June 2, 2020
  28. 157newsCanadians get limited version of new CBS streaming appMichael Lewis — April 23, 2018
  29. 161webParamount+ has landed on OSN MENAThomas Shambler — September 7, 2020
  30. 170tweetIn 2022, @paramountplus will expand to some of the world's biggest markets, with customized go-to-market plans for each region. By the end of Q2, we'll launch in the UK, South Korea & the Caribbean. …Paramount — February 15, 2022
  31. 173tweetParamount+ is here!FLOW — August 26, 2022
  32. 175webSkyShowtime makes European debutSeptember 20, 2022
  33. 178webSkyShowtime Sets Feb. 14 Launches in 8 MarketsGeorg Szalai — January 31, 2023
  34. 181tweetIn 2023, we'll focus on bringing Paramount+ to every region of the world—across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.Paramount — February 16, 2022
  35. 190newsCoupang Play launches exclusive Paramount+ service in KoreaYoon-seo Lee — November 21, 2025
  36. 192webT-Mobile is giving customers a free year of Paramount PlusChaim Gartenberg — November 4, 2021
  37. 194webCBS Launches All Access Streaming Service in CanadaJon Lafayette — April 24, 2018
  38. 204webParamount+ to Launch in France With Canal+ PartnershipGeorg Szalai — February 16, 2022
  39. 205webParamount+ to Bow in France, Germany in DecemberAnna Marie de la Fuente — October 17, 2022
  40. 206webParamount+ Prepares to Launch in FranceRichard Middleton — November 30, 2022
  41. 209webParamount+ Launches in Japan in Partnership With J:COM, WowowPatrick Brzeski — December 6, 2023
  42. 211webParamount+ Lands in GreeceOctober 17, 2023
  43. 214webAbout BeIN Connect?June 9, 2025