Editor’s note: Paramount Plus has now integrated Showtime directly within the app and is offering a special promotion that lowers the cost of the bundle. To find out more or to sign up, click or tap here.
ViacomCBS is offering a special bundle that brings together its premium streaming service Paramount Plus with its adult-oriented subscription movie network Showtime, The Desk has learned.
The bundle, which has flown under the radar but has been offered since Paramount Plus launched last month, allows subscribers to grab Showtime at a discounted rate when they add the network as part of their Paramount Plus service.
On its own, Paramount Plus starts at $6 a month with advertisements while Showtime costs $11 a month. The combined package would set subscribers back at least $17 a month if purchased alone (or $21 a month if viewers chose a version of Paramount Plus that drops most of its ads).
While both Paramount Plus and Showtime offer annual subscriptions, the discounted bundle is only available if subscribers opt for a monthly subscription on both services.
- In order to get the bundle, viewers must first sign up for a monthly Paramount Plus subscription (annual subscriptions are not supported) by clicking or tapping this link or by visiting www.paramountplus.com. (Those who already have a monthly Paramount Plus subscription can skip to the next step.)
- Once the service has started, Paramount Plus subscribers can purchase the discounted bundle with Showtime by clicking or tapping this link.
- After the bundle is purchased, Paramount Plus will display a special link that allows subscribers to activate their bundle on Showtime. The same e-mail address used for Paramount Plus must also be used for the Showtime account in order for the bundle to work. (Those with an active Showtime subscription under the same e-mail address will have to cancel their existing Showtime subscription before they’re able to bundle the two services together.)
Get Paramount Plus with Showtime:
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The bundle is similar to one offered by Apple last year that combined CBS All Access, the predecessor of Paramount Plus, and Showtime into a single subscription when purchased through the Apple TV app. The bundle also offered access to Apple’s own streaming service, Apple TV Plus.
Unlike the discount offered by Apple, which allowed CBS All Access and Showtime content to be accessed through a single app, the Paramount Plus with Showtime bundle still requires using separate apps — viewers won’t get Showtime content in the Paramount Plus app and vice versa.
At least, not right away: There’s speculation that ViacomCBS may soon integrate content from across its services into a single app. That app would likely be Paramount Plus — executives recently announced some new content discovery features, including linear content channels like those found on Pluto TV, would make its way to Paramount Plus in the coming months. Bundles were also mentioned, fueling speculation that ViacomCBS might offer a special joint subscription to Paramount Plus and Showtime.
Here’s some good news: They already do.
Paramount Plus offers television shows from the libraries of BET, CBS, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, Smithsonian Channel and VH1 along with movies from Paramount Pictures. It also carries licensed content from third-party distributors; later this summer, the service will start offering movies from the premium network Epix.
Showtime offers dozens of original programs combined with licensed movies from Paramount Pictures, Miramax, A24, DreamWorks, IFC Films and other production companies. The Showtime app offers two live feeds — Showtime East and Showtime West — which airs some live sporting events, including Showtime-produced boxing matches.
Paramount Plus and Showtime are supported on all major streaming devices, smartphones and tablets, including Apple (iPhones, iPads, Apple TV), Android (Google TV, Chromecast, Android phones, Android tablets), Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Microsoft (XBox) and Sony (PlayStation).
