Paramount+ subscribers should prepare for higher bills starting next year. The streaming service announced it will raise prices across all tiers in January 2026, marking the second increase in less than two years as the newly merged Paramount Skydance invests heavily in premium content.
New Pricing Takes Effect January 15, 2026
Beginning January 15, 2026, Paramount+ will implement price increases across its subscription options. The Essential plan (ad-supported) will climb from $7.99 to $8.99 per month, while the Premium plan (ad-free) jumps from $12.99 to $13.99 monthly—both representing $1 increases.
Annual subscribers will see more substantial hikes, though these plans still offer savings compared to monthly billing. The Essential annual plan will rise to $89.99 (equivalent to $7.50 per month), up from the current $59.99. Premium annual subscribers will pay $139.99 (working out to $11.67 monthly), compared to today’s $119.99.
Fueling a Content Revolution
David Ellison, chairman and CEO of Paramount Skydance, framed the price adjustments as necessary investments in quality programming. “These changes will fuel continued reinvestment in the user experience and deliver an even stronger slate of programming for our customers in the year ahead and beyond,” Ellison stated in the company’s Q3 2025 shareholder letter.
The company is backing up this promise with serious financial commitments. Paramount expects to invest over $1.5 billion in incremental programming throughout 2026, including direct-to-consumer investments in UFC content, Paramount+ originals, third-party catalog licensing, and an expanded film slate targeting 15 movies annually.
Blockbuster Deals Driving Growth
Recent high-profile agreements demonstrate where subscriber dollars are headed. Paramount recently secured a seven-year, $7.7 billion deal with UFC, making Paramount+ the exclusive home for the mixed martial arts promoter’s events. The platform also locked in a five-year exclusive partnership with Matt Stone and Trey Parker, the creators behind “South Park,” in a deal reportedly worth $1.5 billion. According to Ellison, “South Park” was the top driver of new subscriber acquisitions for Paramount+ during Q3 2025.
Competitive Positioning and Market Context
Despite the increases, Paramount maintains that its service will remain “one of the most competitively priced streaming services in the U.S.” The platform offers a robust content library including original series like “Landman” and “Tulsa King,” beloved franchises such as “Star Trek” and “South Park,” major film properties including “Mission: Impossible,” CBS hits like “Tracker” and “Survivor,” and exclusive sports coverage featuring Sunday afternoon NFL games and UEFA Champions League matches.
The timing follows Skydance Media’s $8 billion acquisition of Paramount Global, which closed in August 2025. The previous price increase occurred in August 2024, when Premium rose by $1 and Essential climbed by $2. Paramount also recently announced similar price adjustments coming to Canada and Australia.
Strong Performance Metrics
The investments appear to be paying off. Paramount+ ended September 2025 with 79.1 million subscribers, up from 77.7 million three months earlier. The company’s direct-to-consumer revenue increased 17% year-over-year to $2.17 billion in Q3 2025, with Paramount+ revenue specifically growing 24% to $1.04 billion.
One notable reporting change: Starting in Q4 2025, Paramount will only count paid subscribers in its official figures, excluding the 1.2 million users currently on free trials.
As streaming platforms continue navigating the balance between profitability and competitive pricing, Paramount+ is betting that premium content—from UFC fights to exclusive originals—will justify the higher costs for its growing subscriber base.
