Today it was announced that the free streaming service Pluto TV will begin to add CBS programming starting tomorrow. It had been announced that CBS content would likely be added to Pluto TV after the merger in December 2019 but now it seems that CBS is not going to wait according to CBS executives during their 3rd Quarter earnings call this morning.
Update: Pluto TV has now added several CBS networks. You can learn more HERE.
Many people have worried that Pluto TV would become a paid service under Viacom. But have no fear, even Viacom’s CEO has made it clear that even after Viacom takes ownership of CBS All Access, Pluto TV will stay free.
“Now that we can bring them together, we can bring people in through the free service and some will only stay in free. Others we will have the opportunity to upsell them to the pay product. We can return them to the free eco-system if they decide to pause and re-market to them when their situation changes. We think that is a powerful idea,” said Viacom’s CEO Bob Bakish at the Goldman Sachs’ Communacopia Investor Conference earlier this year.
From the sounds of it, Pluto TV will be used to help drive paid subscribers to CBS All Access. You can easily see why Viacom CBS would put early seasons of popular shows for free on Pluto TV or maybe even a few episodes of a new show. From there if you want to see more you’ll have to subscribe to CBS All Access to continue watching.
Right now we don’t have details on what channels Pluto TV will add tomorrow, but Cord Cutters News will post updates as we learn more.
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