ViacomCBS plans streaming service built on CBS All Access

The recently merged ViacomCBS is reportedly working on an all-encompassing streaming service that combines assets from its impressive catalog of media companies including Comedy Central, MTV and Nickelodeon.

Citing people familiar with the matter, CNBC reports ViacomCBS executives are mulling an ad-supported streaming product built on the existing CBS All Access service. In addition to content currently available on CBS All Access, the prospective offering could include assets from BET, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, Pluto TV and Paramount Pictures.

An ad-free version of the service is also being explored, as is a premium tier that offers access to Showtime.

Those involved in the project have yet to decide on a name or agree on pricing, though sources say the base service will come in under $10. Currently, CBS All Access is marketed at $5.99 a month with ads, while a $9.99-per-month tier offers an ad-free experience.

Introduced in October 2014, CBS All Access was among the first over-the-top services to debut from a major network. In addition to a slate of popular shows and sporting events including NFL games, the service now boasts original content like "Star Trek: Picard" and the rebooted "The Twilight Zone."

Last July, CBS All Access landed on Apple TV Channels.

Viacom and CBS merged in August 2019 in a deal valued at $30 billion. The as-yet-unnamed streaming service is the firm's answer to products fielded by industry incumbents and newcomers like Apple.

ViacomCBS appears to be following a content bundling strategy similar to those employed by AT&T's WarnerMedia, NBCUniversal's Peacock and Disney+, the latter of which attracted 28.6 million subscribers in less than three months. Unlike Apple TV+, which relies solely on original content, products from other major players combine live TV with sports, series, movie properties and streaming originals.

More information about ViacomCBS' streaming service is expected to drop when the company reports earnings on Feb. 20.

11 Comments

supadav03 503 comments · 10 Years

About 4 years ago

Not a fan of CBS All-Access. It’s the one local station I can’t watch live on the Apple TV even when authenticating with my cable provider. Rather annoying.

ITGUYINSD 540 comments · 5 Years

So another streaming service. We're being 10-dollars-a-month'ed to death.

SpamSandwich 32917 comments · 19 Years

ITGUYINSD said:

So another streaming service. We're being 10-dollars-a-month'ed to death.

All of this activity illustrates how immensely profitable these services are for these companies. In five years all of the broadcast networks will have built out streaming options and broadcast options will look like extended infomercials.

bestkeptsecret 4282 comments · 13 Years

ITGUYINSD said:

So another streaming service. We're being 10-dollars-a-month'ed to death.

Well, you don't have to subscribe, you know. A lot of people have suggested how you can subscribe to a service for a month, binge watch whatever you are interested in, cancel your subscription and move onto the next service.
I think that is the closest we'll get to an all-you-can-eat buffet at a reasonable price.

BTW, I just managed to catch the first episode of Picard. It is pretty interesting.

apple ][ 9225 comments · 13 Years

bestkeptsecret said:

ITGUYINSD said:

So another streaming service. We're being 10-dollars-a-month'ed to death.

Well, you don't have to subscribe, you know. A lot of people have suggested how you can subscribe to a service for a month, binge watch whatever you are interested in, cancel your subscription and move onto the next service.
I think that is the closest we'll get to an all-you-can-eat buffet at a reasonable price.

BTW, I just managed to catch the first episode of Picard. It is pretty interesting.

That is true.

People were whining for the longest time about Cable and how they should be able to pick and choose.

Well, what they wanted is now available to them.

I ditched my cable about a half a year ago, and I now subscribe to various streaming services and I jump between them from month to month. Most of them aren't interesting for more than a month at a time, in my opinion.

I've subscribed to almost everything, amazon, netflix, cbs all access, hbo, cinemax, starz, disney, hulu etc., just not all at the same time. I watch what I want and then I move on.