The streaming wars have been raging for quite some time, but it's clear that more companies see a future in getting involved in this titanic structure. While the original streaming giants all attempted to negotiate deals in order to work with production partners, many of the modern entrance into this realm are companies that want to not only be the home for streaming new content, but also to own the content that's streaming. That's why apps like Paramount+ have become so prevalent and why it's important for consumers to get a good idea of what these types of services can offer.

Paramount+ was formerly known as CBS All Access, so users of that older service have already had their accounts updated to reflect the change. Those who move to Paramount+ as new users will have an experience that's remarkably similar to those that were had by the original CBS All Access Customers, albeit with an even greater focus on the huge back catalog of CBS' offerings across all of its cable channels. Taking some time to look at what this app offers is a good way to determine if it's worth your time to sign up for yet another streaming service.

Features and Benefits

It's perhaps best to start by looking at what Paramount+ aims to do. It's not a Netflix competitor; instead, it's aiming for the second tier of streaming services, which feature less prominent content but also a much lower price tag. As such, the bulk of this app is dedicated towards giving users access to a tremendous amount of older programming not just from CBS but also from networks like Nickelodeon. This app also features a number of original programs, with a huge emphasis on the Star Trek brand. Though the new content is growing at a fairly reasonable clip, it's still heavily reliant on the newer Star Trek shows as its main draw.

The big benefit of this app is, of course, access to a tremendous amount of content that you're not going to find on other streaming apps. As various licensing deals start to expire, it's likely that Paramount+ will be the only place where you will be able to legally watch some of this older content. At the same time, though, the app does offer a number of new programs that can only be watched through the app. While most of the new programs seem to be similar to CBS' usual fair, there are also some unique shows that really thrive in this atmosphere. The biggest beneficiaries, though, are probably Star Trek fans - after all, this is the only place where you can view literally all of the Star Trek television content at once.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Fairly big library of content
• Unique new shows
• Great content for Star Trek fans
• Relatively low price

Cons

• Doesn't offer quite as much as some streaming services
• Interface still needs some work
• Not enough original programming for non-Trek fans

Conclusion

Paramount+ is a streaming service for those who either don't want to pay for cable or who have enough room in their budget to add a fourth or fifth streaming service. It is clearly a must-have for Star Trek fans, but most other viewers might find it hard to justify paying for yet another subscription service. With that said, this app does have a rapidly growing library and the low price does make it an intriguing choice for many users.