Paramount+ reveals Oz launch plans as service leads VCBS streaming growth

ViacomCBS-owned streamer Paramount+ will launch in Australia in August, with four local originals already announced.

Australian linear channel Channel Ten is owned by ViacomCBS and its SVOD 10 All Access will be rebranded as Paramount+ on 11 August, with the service priced at A$8.99 ($6.75) per month. Current subscribers to 10 All Access will be automatically transferred to the new service.

Among the local exclusives are Northern Pictures’ comedy Spreadsheet, crime drama Last King Of The Cross, family dramedy Five Bedrooms and coming-of-age feature film 6 Festivals.

At launch, Paramount+ will offer 20,000 TV episodes and movies from ViacomCBS brands including Paramount Pictures, Showtime, BET, CBS, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon and Sony Pictures Television.

Further exclusive content such as Halo, Y:1883, Leonardo, Spy City, Line In The Sand and Ripley will be available on the service, while a robust kids offering includes SpongeBob SquarePants and Dora The Explorer.

ViacomCBS also announced its first quarter report earlier this week, revealing that it had added six million total global streaming subscribers in the quarter, with the “significant majority” of those on Paramount+, to reach a total of 36 million paid users.

Its AVOD service Pluto TV also gained around six million new users in the quarter, growing to almost 50 million monthly active users by the end of March.

“Paramount+ has something for everyone. It will be home to the biggest names in entertainment, exclusive premium content and unique stories,” commented Beverley McGarvey, ViacomCBS Australia & New Zealand chief content officer and EVP.

“We are poised to become as powerful a player in streaming as we are in television. By leveraging the iconic Paramount brand, leading-edge infrastructure, along with an incredible super-sized pipeline of must-see content, Paramount+ will deliver an exceptional consumer entertainment experience.”

[Correction 11/05/21: An earlier version of this story said that Paramount+ will also be launching in New Zealand in August. This is not the case].