Paramount+ streaming service has eventually arrived in South Africa and Africa but not in the conventional way of Disney+ and Netflix+ that exist as separate services.
Oops, did we just say Netflix+ or were we meaning SABC+ or what's that other one with the highly original name too?
In case you aren't familiar with it... Paramount+ is an American streaming service featuring shows and movies by Paramount Pictures, CBS network, Showtime (oh Dexter, we miss you) and Paramount+ Originals (created specifically for the streamer).
Today MultiChoice announced that they've signed a licensing deal with Paramount Global Content Distribution to bring Paramount+ to South Africa as a separate library on DStv Stream and Showmax, meaning it won't be an extra, add-on paid for service like Disney+ and BritBox.
At least this is what we presume because no prices have been mentioned. We'll let you know if this changes.
We envisage it as being similar to the Universal+ situation where there's a separate section for all series from them e.g. Special Ops: Lioness, which started on M-Net yesterday, would go into the Paramount+ section because it's a Paramount+ show. Survivor should be there too, with other titles from CBS, Showmax and Paramount Pictures.
The section is already live on Showmax, down at the bottom of the page where they have sections for HBO, Universal, Sony, Showmax Originals etc.
We can't find it on DStv Stream yet and it isn't clear what packages it's going to be available on, nor when. We'll keep you posted once this is confirmed.
It seems this is the Paramount plan to get Paramount+ into international markets because they've already launched the same set-up in Greece, Philippines, Belgium and India.
A good move because it means subscribers get more bang for their buck and don't have to pay extra for an additional streaming service.
As long as they give us the good stuff and don't leave us behind the times when it comes to new shows that stream on the American version.