Direct TV is one of the best satellite TV service providers in the United States, currently providing its users with hundreds of channels that cover entertainment, news, sports, and much more. The current media merger that comes to mind is Direct TV, which was recently bought by AT&T. There were many hopes stated after the deal, including the fact that DirectTV customers would be able to access AT&T’s streaming apps such as HBO Max. This prompted several people to ask – is Paramount Plus free with DirecTV? Let me demonstrate that more specifically.
What is Paramount Plus?
Paramount Plus, as the name suggests, is the streaming service owned by Viacom CBS, a global media company. It provides access to thousands of episodes of television shows and movies from channels/brands including CBS, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, and Paramount Pictures. It has two main plans, which include the Paramount Plus ad-supported plan that costs $4. 99 monthly and the ad-free Paramount Plus plan costs $9. 99 monthly.
Do customers who subscribe to DirecTV get this as an additional streaming service that is free of charge? At the moment the answer is no, DirectTV as of now does not offer Paramount Plus as part of its channel package deals or services. Therefore, if you need Paramount Plus, you must buy it on your own since it is not included with Peacock.
However, there is still the possibility that Paramount Plus could be added to packages that are accessible on DirecTV at no additional cost. Here are some reasons why:
AT&T Partnership Opportunities
Their satellite television service is now owned by AT&T after a merger that was completed in the past years. It also has a partnership agreement with Paramount Plus which offers subscription to the platform with some of its wireless plans. This means that there must be some level of cooperation that can expand to DirecTV at a later date.
Evolving Streaming Landscape
Offering video streaming free of charge bundled with other television packages has also become a rather typical practice in the industry. For instance, almost all the significant cable operators provide Peacock Premium channels free of charge, and all HBO users can access HBO Max through AT&T TV and DirecTV. In the streaming wars, the ability for TV providers to add standalone streaming apps becomes necessary to entice consumers.
Demand Among Subscribers
Currently, much of the excitement is around existing DirecTV customers who want to get Paramount Plus shows. And it is not only series like Frasier that might be familiar to viewers but also live CBS feeds, UEFA soccer matches, and the latest news. This is important for many people because having Paramount Plus included could mean that many people could stick with their DirecTV instead of canceling it.
Testing With Sister Brands
Though Paramount Plus itself is not bundled yet, DirecTV has tried some of the free streaming subscription trials which might work in the same way. For example, they previously provided a free subscription that extends to one year, to HBO Max, which is another streaming platform under the same umbrella as the company, AT&T. If this promotion was effective, it could trigger them to do the same with Paramount Plus.
Timing Challenges
However, one of the main challenges is that DirecTV had only started entering arrangements with viewers offering free HBO Max before the Paramount Plus launch. Again making changes to package deals just to add another streaming subscription might have been challenging from a practical and fiscal standpoint within a short period.
However, if the market penetration is now stabilizing and the frequency of usage is consequently on the rise, it may eventually be feasible for it to make more sense to incorporate Paramount Plus into DirecTV offerings as a bonus.
What DirecTV Has Said
However, neither have Directv executives stated or hinted at any plans of specific changes shortly involving Paramount Plus bundling. However, they have not dismissed it entirely or alienated the possibility of it happening in the future. In response to questions about approaching the idea, the company’s interim CEO, Bill Morrow was relatively positive but non-committal saying that the promotional ventures would be assessed. It appears that there is still some light at the end of the tunnel which requires negotiation and technical integration backstage.
How You Might be Able to Access Paramount Plus with DirecTV in the Future
However, until today, Paramount Plus is not part of the DirecTV freebie offer, although some expect that it will be sooner or later. And there are still a few ways existing DirecTV customers can unlock Paramount Plus promotions in the meantime:
Now and then, DirecTV makes Paramount Plus available at a cheaper price than usual for its consumers, enabling them to access it at an additional cost.
Customers can opt for DirecTV Stream, the provider that offers their standalone streaming service which comes with Paramount Plus as a freebie. It has a different channel lineup and equipment requirements compared to regular cable TV.
Waiting for DirecTV to offer a free preview of the month or waiting for a free month of Paramount Plus at the time of a big new show or movie on the service.
That said, what we’ve seen so far with Paramount Plus isn’t necessarily a long-term partnership for the traditional DirecTV satellite subscribers; however, the short-term schemes and special previews at least give a glimpse of what can be expected. The only thing that seems to be missing right now is the question of whether or not Paramount Plus comes bundled with DirecTV, as there is seemingly so much potential for the two to partner moving forward.
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