Paramount+ details international ad-supported roll-out

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

Paramount Global streamer Paramount+ will begin the international rollout of its ad-supported subscription offering from this spring.

The plan will launch in April in Canada and in June in Australia, priced at $6.99 CAD and AUD, respectively, with the ad-free premium plan to also roll out in Europe, beginning with France this month.

Paramount+ was launched into 45 countries in 2022, offering shows such as Lioness, Tulsa King and Yellowstone from Taylor Sheridan, as well as Star Trek: Strange New Worlds and forthcoming drama The Curse.

Company CEO Bob Bakish recently announced it was cutting back on local-language programming internationally and focusing on “Hollywood hits” with broader appeal both in the US and overseas.

Last month the company posted full-year revenues of US$29.7 billion, down 2%, of which streaming accounted for US$6.7 billion, up 37%. Adjusted OIBDA was US$2.4 billion, down 27% after what Bakish described as “a dynamic and in many ways a challenging year”.

The company’s Q4 performance was hit by a 12% drop in revenue amid cable subscriber declines and a drop in advertising.  Paramount+ also added 4.1 million net new subscribers in the quarter.

Marco Nobili, EVP and international GM of Paramount+ stated: “Our pricing strategy and a market-by-market approach to our offering is key to providing customers choice, flexibility and value. The ‘Premium’ tier has demonstrated great success in Canada, Australia and Latin America, and I am confident this offering will enable us to reach new subscribers in Europe, as well.”