Paramount Plus in 2025: Transformation Through Mergers, Sports Rights, and Original Content
Major Corporate Changes and Growth
In a significant development, Paramount Global and Skydance Media completed their merger on August 7, 2025, following FCC approval. The newly formed Paramount Skydance Corporation has undergone restructuring, with Tom Ryan, president of Paramount Streaming, now reporting to Cindy Holland, who leads the new Paramount Skydance Direct-to-consumer division.
Expanding Sports Coverage
The platform has secured a major sports rights deal, acquiring exclusive U.S. broadcast rights to the UFC for $7.7 billion over seven years. Starting in 2026, Paramount+ will become the exclusive streaming home for all UFC events, with CBS airing select matches.
Additionally, the service has strengthened its rugby coverage through an exclusive agreement with World Rugby, making Paramount+ the U.S. home for all men’s and women’s World Rugby events through 2029, including three Rugby World Cups and USA national team matches.
Content and Programming
In a significant content acquisition, Paramount has committed $1.5 billion to secure South Park exclusively for its streaming platform, winning a competitive bidding war against HBO Max and Netflix.
The platform’s September lineup features notable releases, including the third season of ‘Tulsa King’ starring Sylvester Stallone, a new ‘NCIS’ spinoff titled ‘NCIS: Tony & Ziva,’ and the streaming premiere of ‘The Wedding Banquet.’
Competitive Pricing and Features
Paramount Plus has established itself as a distinctive player in the streaming landscape, offering diverse content, high-quality streaming, and broad device compatibility, all within a competitive pricing structure. The service caters to various audiences through its extensive library and supplementary services.
The service maintains two primary subscription tiers: an Essential Plan at $5.99 monthly with advertisements, and a Premium Plan for ad-free viewing. Both plans typically include a free trial period. Premium subscribers gain additional benefits, including access to live sports broadcasts such as NFL games, UEFA Champions League matches, and PGA Tour events.
