Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

You’ll soon be able to subscribe to Paramount+ from The Roku Channel

By Phil Nickinson August 3, 2022

If, after reading this, you feel like you’ve got a bit of Inception, you’re not alone. Roku has announced that you’ll be able to subscribe to the Paramount+ streaming service later this month from within The Roku Channel. It’ll still cost exactly the same — $5 a month for the version with ads, or $10 a month if you want to get rid of most ads.

Why do this, instead of just having a separate subscription and its own channel (which is what Roku basically calls apps) on Roku? In addition to letting Roku manage the billing, you’ll get the Paramount+ content right alongside everything else that’s tucked into The Roku Channel, which also is available on Amazon Fire TV, Samsung smart TVs, and in a web browser. It’s another way to make The Roku Channel (and the ads Roku sells for it) a premium destination on the biggest streaming platform in the United States, and it’s bringing what’s new on Paramount+ with it.

Phil Nickinson/Digital Trends

“We’re thrilled to partner with Paramount+ in its continued growth, and for the ability to provide our audience with easy access to its extraordinary breadth of content, IP, and live news and sporting events” Rob Holmes, Vice President of Programming for Roku, said in a press release. “Premium Subscriptions connects today’s highest-quality content providers to the millions of streamers on The Roku Channel, and we’re excited to introduce streamers to everything that Paramount+ has to offer directly within The Roku Channel.”

Paramount+ — which is home to all things Star Trek, along with live sports like the Champions League and the National Women’s Soccer League — increases the total number of premium services available on the platform to more than 50. Like other premium services on Roku, Paramount+ lets you test things out with a free seven-day trial.

Recommended Videos

“Paramount+ features an expansive breadth of content for the whole household, spanning original dramas, blockbuster movies, popular unscripted series, sports and news, all at a competitive price point,” Jeff Shultz, chief strategy officer and chief business development officer for Paramount Streaming, said in the press release. “We are excited to expand our successful partnership with Roku and bring Paramount+ to The Roku Channel.”

Roku has some 55.1 million active accounts as of July 2022, and makes the lion’s share of its revenue on the “platform” side, meaning advertising and other non-hardware things. Paramount+ reported just under 40 million subscribers as of the first quarter of 2022.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Section Editor, Audio/Video

Phil spent the 2000s making newspapers with the Pensacola (Fla.) News Journal, the 2010s with Android Central and then the…

Audio / Video

Roku TV Ready lets you control your entire soundbar from a Roku TV remote

One of the best features of HDMI ARC connection is being able to control basic functions of your soundbar like volume and power with your TV remote. Now, Roku's new Roku TV Ready initiative is taking things a step further, allowing soundbar makers to work with Roku software so you can control everything on your soundbar -- from EQ to sound modes -- all from your Roku TV remote.

The first manufacturer on the list is long-time partner TCL, which has committed to releasing at least one Roku soundbar in 2020. Sound United brand and storied audio company Denon has promised to launch some Roku TV Ready audio products as well, allowing you to control their high-quality sound machines from the Roku TV Remote.

Audio / Video

You’ll soon be able to stream songs in Sony’s 360 Reality Audio format

When Sony gave us a chance to demo its new 360 Reality Audio format at CES 2019 earlier this year, we were very impressed with what we heard. Our only question was, when will we get a chance to experience it in the comfort of our own homes? The answer, according to Sony, is "late fall, 2019" -- in other words, much sooner than we expected. The immersive audio format, which will compete with Dolby's Atmos Music, will be added to Tidal, Amazon Music HD, Deezer, and Nugs.net through an initial release of about 1,000 tracks.

Sony says it's working with music labels including Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group, and Warner Music Group to expand the amount of music that is produced in 360 Reality Audio. The initial 1,000-track library includes current hit artists such as Mark Ronson and Pharrell Williams, but also has classics such as Billy Joel and Bob Dylan. There's also going to be around 100 live concert recordings from Live Nation Clubs & Theaters.

Audio / Video

Roku Channel adds a section just for kids, gives parents more control

Roku has been developing its Roku Channel -- a one-stop content shop with free and paid video options -- at a furious pace. It regularly adds new sources of content, and now it's giving parents two very helpful features: A specific kids and family section, and the ability to control what viewers see within the Roku Channel based on content ratings.

Previously, the Roku Channel had a section called Family Night, but the new Kids and Family section is a more comprehensive spot for age-appropriate content from all of the channels that are now part of the Roku Channel world. There are matches from free, ad-supported sources, as well as any relevant material you might have access to via premium subscriptions to HBO, Starz and others. Even without the paid subscriptions, there is a lot here that kids will like, from classics like Care Bears, My Little Pony, and Dr. Seuss titles, to modern favorites like Bob the Builder. Amoeba, BatteryPop, and KidsGenius are among the early providers of content within the Kids and Family section. The free content skews toward toy company-produced shows like LeapFrog and Super Mario Brothers, but they all have at least a basic educational underpinning. On the bright side, Roku points out that as far as advertising goes, your kids will be exposed to 60% less on the Roku Channel when compared to traditional linear broadcast TV.