A whiff of Nostalgia and hope for better content soon; Paramount plus is a treat for the adults who miss the shows they loved back in their day.
I rate this an 8.7/10 as Paramount Plus provides some, but not all, of the core elements that a streaming service should have. For example, you can make several user profiles, start watching content on one device and finish on another, and save viewing preferences in a "favorites" system.
Aside from minor annoyances like the lack of a watchlist, Paramount Plus is simple to use. There is some 4K video available for premium users, but most of what you'll watch will be in 1080p. That's typical of on-demand streaming, if not very impressive.
The TV and movie library of Paramount Plus differs from that of CBS All Access in that it includes titles from other ViacomCBS networks. While you wait for the newer original material to appear, new users get instant access to a slew of great original series.
The network content supplied will primarily appeal to viewers looking for episodes and movies they've previously seen and appreciated. The newly released movie who have already seen their theatrical debut would appear sooner on this platform than anywhere else.
Paramount Plus packages
A basic plan is available at $4.99 a month, which can be upgraded to a premium of $9.99/month.
- You can obtain an ad-supported version of Paramount+ for $4.99 per month or $49.99 per year, and you can get an ad-supported version of Paramount+.
- Access to local CBS stations is not included. This plan also excludes 4K streaming and content download for offline watching.
- This feature category has been carried over from CBS All Access.
- All subscribers should be allowed to download titles for offline watching at the very least.
- The premium tier of Paramount+ costs $9.99 per month or $99 per year.
- This package includes all of the higher-end streaming options, as well as no advertisements for on-demand programming.
- A seven-day Paramount plus free trial is presently available.
Features
User Interface:
The web interface for Paramount+ is nearly identical to that of CBS All Access, which isn't a terrible thing. It has a dark color palette, a sleek design and is easy to browse. 'Your profile' icon in the upper-right corner can be used to change your account settings. In addition, the main page features an extensive slideshow of highlighted programs as well as horizontally scrolling content category divisions.
Streaming experience:
You receive 10-second fast-forward and rewind buttons, as well as a toggle for subtitles, in addition to basic playback and volume controls. In the upper-left corner of the interface, you'll find a summary of what is your paramount streaming. You may watch select titles in 4K if you subscribe to Paramount+'s premium tier. The HDR and Dolby Vision standards are also supported in these games if used on Paramount Xbox.
Vast library:
In terms of pure material, the Paramount Plus library is immense. However, most of that may be attributed to Viacom's massive cable television library. The episodes of a show that have been recently aired are available on this platform immediately. It's not necessary that all paramount movies are available.
Simultaneous streams:
Subscribers to Paramount+ can stream on up to three devices at the same time. The Netflix Standard package allows for only two simultaneous streams per account. In addition, six profiles per account are supported by Paramount+, which makes it easier to keep downloads and watch histories distinct.
VPN compatibility:
To see how well Paramount+ manages VPN traffic, I linked my desktop and mobile devices to Mullvad VPN servers in the United States. I had no problems streaming from the servers in the United States.
Drawbacks:
Lack of original content:
The service's unquestionable weak heel is its original content, which trails behind Netflix and the like. A SpongeBob Squarepants movie and prequel series Kamp Koral, The Real World Homecoming: New York, and For Heaven's Sake are among the only streaming Paramount Plus Original exclusives.
No DVR:
The service enables 1080/60fps live streaming for owned-and-operated and big stations, and for others, 720/30fps. Higher streaming frame rates make fast-moving objects, such as sports, appear smoother. Unfortunately, Paramount+ does not have DVR options for sports broadcasts, which could be handy for those who cannot watch a game live.
Weak parental controls:
You can lock any profile into a Kids Mode with Paramount+, which has two settings: Younger Kids and Older Kids. Only series and movies with the given ratings are available to watch when a profile is locked with that setting. Surprisingly, switching from a Kids Mode to an unrestricted profile in Paramount+ does not require a password, which seems to defeat the point.
Lacks basic features:
Unlike all significant services, Paramount + lacks the feature of a 'watchlist", where you can separate the shows you like and might want to watch later.
Add-ons
- Add ons- Showtime can also be packaged with Paramount+ for $14.99 or $18.99 per month, depending on whether you choose the ad-supported or ad-free plan from Paramount.
Top 15 Paramount plus Shows/ Web series
- That Animal rescue show
- Texas 6
- All That
- The Amazing Race
- Avatar: The Last Airbender
- The Legend of Korra
- Beverly Hills
- The Brady Bunch
- Big Brother
- Chappelle's Show
- Cheers
- Corporate
- Daria
- Everybody hates Chris
- For Heaven's Sake
Best movies on Paramount plus
- The Big Boss
- The Phantom
- Zodiac
- The Terminator
- Beavis and Butt-Head Do America
- Chinatown
- Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol
- Children of Heaven
- Trainspotting
- Wheels on Meals
- Election
- Super 8
- The Spongebob Movie: Spongebob on the run
- The little house
- Big Night
Verdict
Founded on the principles of CBS All Access, Paramount+ is currently one of the most competitive streaming services available. It features an ever-growing library of TV series and movies, is available on all major platforms and devices, and is reasonably priced. It's evident that CBSViacom put a lot of effort into making Paramount plus a success, and I strongly recommend you to give it a try.
