Paramount+ has now become the latest streaming service to do away with the option of a free trial. With the change now in effect, new and eligible returning subscribers can expect to pay the full cost of the first month or year when signing up.
Key Takeaways
- Paramount+ has eliminated free trials, forcing all new and returning subscribers to pay upfront for their first month or year.
- The removal of free trials is part of a broader “quality growth” strategy, which includes reducing discounts, phasing out certain bundles, and tightening international investment.
- This shift coincides with a price increase that saw the cost of the Essential and Premium plans increasing by $1 a month.
Prior to this change, new and eligible returning Paramount+ subscribers were typically able to test out the streaming service for free for seven days. In some cases, extended free trials lasting up to 30 days were also available.
Paramount previously confirmed Paramount+ free trials were being removed, with their elimination seen as part of a wider strategy to focus on “quality growth” in the future.
“Our goal is to build a large, loyal, and profitable subscriber base, ensuring we optimize growth, long-term business value, and support future investments through sound economic decisions,” Paramount explained during its most recent earnings report.
The removal of the free trials is not the only measure Paramount will undertake as part of this wider strategy, with certain bundles and discounts also expected to be affected.
“While we remain committed to achieving scale from a subscriber perspective, we will prioritize quality growth that delivers strong returns. This includes shifting away from certain hard bundles and low-margin subscriptions, reducing investment in select international markets without a clear path to sufficient scale, retiring free trials, and reviewing discount practices,” Paramount said.
Price increases are also part of this new strategy. In fact, the retiring of the free trial coincides with a Paramount+ price increase that has now rolled out for new and existing subscribers.
With $1 added to both ad-supported and ad-free Paramount+ plans, the cost of the Essential plan has now increased to $8.99 a month, and the Premium plan has increased to $13.99 a month.
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