paramountplus.com

The most anticipated new movie streaming site of 2021 is officially here. That's right, Paramount Plus launched on March 3rd of this year and it has already managed to generate a great deal of hype among movie and TV lovers alike. As the passion project of one of the most respected and longest-running film studios in the world, Paramount Pictures, Paramount Plus promises to be an overnight success, instantly skyrocketing into conversations of the best movie streaming sites. No doubt, by the end of the year, when people discuss the best movie streaming sites available, they will list the usual suspects - Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, etc. - but Paramount Plus is also likely to be thrown in the mix. The Paramount Plus hot new streamer is sure to be a success. Not only have they announced high-profile exclusive and original content, but they will also coincide with theatrical releases of A Quiet Place 2 and Mission Impossible 7. This streamer is definitely worth watching!

Paramount Plus will offer new must-see content along with a wealth of classics and fan favorites, including access to CBS All Access' highly sought-after Star Trek catalog. As of March 3, 2021, CBS All Access subscribers will have access to Paramount Plus automatically.

What does this mean for movie streaming? This site will have unprecedented access to popular TV programming and movies from networks like MTV, BET, VH1, Comedy Central, and more. Subscribers can count on enjoying some of their favorite hard-to-find shows and movies from Paramount Pictures. Oh, and did I mention that users will also gain access to the entire catalog of Paramount Pictures movies?

In case the offerings of this streaming site sounded a little too basic for you, you may find relief in learning that Paramount Plus offers minimal live TV streaming as well. Compared to other live TV streaming services, the selection may be a little thin. However, depending on your viewing habits, the type of live content offered may make up for the lack of live channels. But we'll delve into greater depth on that later on.

Based on what we've seen so far, Paramount Plus definitely seems like a site that offers something different and more high-quality than its competitors. It's unique viewing experience is something that is hard to come by, especially in today's saturated premium streaming market. However, the monthly subscription fees may be a little too expensive for some people. Let's take a closer look at the site and see if it has everything we need to make the decision whether or not it's the best movie streaming site out there.

Design

Paramount Plus presents a site design that I would expect from a 108-year-old multibillion-dollar company, especially given the relatively recent merger with Viacom CBS. The conglomerate behind this movie streaming site has a budget that most other movie streaming sites could never even dream of obtaining (with Amazon and maybe Netflix being the most notable exceptions). This can be seen in Paramount Plus's sleek, dynamic, and nearly flawless site design. Although Paramount's website design falls short of being revolutionary, it can be said that they have come close to perfecting it. The home page of the site, for instance, is bound to look fairly familiar to anybody who has used a premium movie streaming site like Netflix or Hulu before. You will be greeted by a large banner atop the page which features and promotes movies and shows. Below that, as per usual, you can scroll through descending rows of content, organized by genre and category.

One minor difference between Paramount Plus and most of its competitors is that there is a row of channels in between the banner and the browsing menu, allowing you to quickly navigate between the site's hubs if you like. Click on MTV, BET, VH1, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, etc., in order to be transported to your chosen channel's own page, where you will find what is potentially my only design complaint.

The hub pages are both user-friendly and sleek, but it would be nice if they offered more filtering options. For instance, if I am on the MTV page, I would like to be able to easily browse by genre - reality TV shows, music shows, competition shows, etc. Instead, I have to browse through everything offered by MTV to find what I am in the mood for. I don't see why the hubs aren't further organized too - seeing as the main movies and TV pages do offer such a layout.

Content and Features

Paramount Plus offers about 30,000 television shows and hundreds of movies. So, the quantity of movies and television shows that this movie streaming service offers will not be an issue. I have already touched upon earlier how it appears as if much of the content here is high quality, thanks to a unique blend of original and syndicated content and exclusive releases on the horizon. In this review, I will discuss some of the features that Paramount Plus offers with regards to live TV streaming. If you are looking for a site that will offer access to your local CBS live stream, this may not be the best option for you; however, you will at least have access to your local primetime show streams. Local news and much of the daytime programming will not be aired on this site.

Paramount Plus makes up for this by providing impressive live sports coverage. Unlike many other streaming services, Paramount Plus does not charge extra in exchange for access to live sports streaming. Whether you subscribe to a basic plan or an upgrade with more channels, everyone can watch any games that are broadcast on CBS TV and the CBS Sports Network.

That means that subscribers can watch select NFL games (even the Super Bowl on years that CBS broadcasts it), many NCAA March Madness games, college hockey, and Masters golf. Additionally, Paramount Plus offers an impressive lineup of EUFA matches, as well as the National Women?s Soccer League. Accordingly, it is likely that Paramount Plus will be the only streaming site you will need to have all of your sports needs met, but it will get you much closer than most other movie streaming sites on the market.

Mobile and Desktop Experience

It is not surprising that Paramount Plus has mobile apps available for both Android and iOS devices. Users will find that the apps are just as intuitive, user friendly, and effective as the desktop site. The app has only been available on the Apple App Store for 1 full day and has received 171,000 ratings and an average user rating of 4.5 out of 5. Paramount Plus is available on literally any device, from Roku to Xbox and everything in between. In fact, it would be easier to tell you the devices on which Paramount is not compatible since there are only three: LG Smart TVs, Nintendo Switch, and Wii.

Pricing and Plans

It is becoming increasingly common for the best movie streaming sites to offer two subscription plans: one that includes ads and one that is ad-free. This is also the case for Paramount Plus, which costs $5.99/month if you don't mind putting up with ads before and after you stream movies, or $9.99/month if you prefer not to. Regardless of which plan you choose, the first month is free (for now).