The streaming service landscape continues to be flooded with new channels. Providers are constantly trying to find ways to entice new subscribers to the fold. From free trial periods, exclusive shows, occasional bundles, to multiple pricing tiers, there are many strategies employed in this ever-expanding sea. Occasionally, they are even offered for free with ads. One other strategy has also been to simply rename yourself if the branding doesn’t seem to fit just right. CBS All Access is set to become Paramount+. It seems Disney is rubbing off on them. Parent company ViacomCBS made the announcement on September 15.
The Paramount+ streaming service will launch in early 2021 as a rebrand of the company’s current streaming service, CBS All Access. It will feature content from ViacomCBS’ portfolio of broadcast, news, sports, and its popular entertainment brands, like MTV, BET, Comedy Central, CBS, Nickelodeon, and Smithsonian Channel. Additionally, the service will feature movies from Paramount Pictures. ViacomCBS will also bring Paramount+ to international markets with an initial debut in Australia, Latin America and the Nordics.
Early Start and Exclusives Don’t Always Mean Success
CBS All Access has been around since 2014, which is kind of a shock but also explains this new plan. Considering how long it has been in the game, one might expect it to be a bit more popular. Even trying to lure subscribers with an ever-growing amount of exclusive Star Trek titles has not helped, either. Exclusive doesn’t always equate to well received. Fans have always been vocal and divisive over the new shows. CBS All Access has also tried new tactics recently, such as adding a library of movies. However, they weren’t exactly advertised and didn’t have the desired impact as hoped. Well, the next step will be a name change along with additional content to be added in early 2021.