Everything You Need to Know about Paramount +

 

Well gang, more hype has come about with another streaming service.  Advertisements during the Super Bowl claims that Paramount + will bring together so much in one brand new home.  As per usual, here are some facts and opinions on the next potential player in the streaming war.

1. This is NOT a new streaming service

This will be a rebrand of CBS All Access which has already built up its service with its CBS shows and well as some Paramount movies and such.

2. Everything that's on CBS All Access will carry over to Paramount +

This includes all the CBS TV shows and all the cartoons that are already on there (unless they end up losing the license to some of the shows during the rebrand which may happen, and yes some of these shows like Sonic the Hedgehog and Super Mario are under license).

3. And if you have a CBS All Access account, that will carry over too.

Since it's a rebrand and not a streaming service, you should be covered (unless something screwy happens between now and March).  However, if you are not signed up yet and want to, we recommend signing up a CBS All Access account right now as you may get extra discounts when it becomes Paramount +

4. Lot of Spongebob

You didn't think that performance of Sweet Victory was for nothing on the Super Bowl commercial did you?  Of course Spongebob will be a massive part of Paramount + with over 200 episodes of the famous sponge.  In addition, a new series called Kamp Koral will premiere exclusively on this service as well as the new Spongebob feature, Sponge on the Run.  There should be enough Spongebob Squarepants to go around here.

5. Despite Paramount's slight hatred of cartoons, the Paramount + library will be more awesome than Peacock's

It still surprises me that despite the massive animation library NBC/Universal has that it's still only chicken feed on their streaming service.  Even some of their own titles such as the new Mr Magoo and Lassie series are on CBS All Access and not on Peacock.  Strangely enough though, some great cartoons are already on CBS, even if they are not "Golden Age classics" they are stuff fans will wanna come back for more. Even with all its controversies, there still is a lot already there. Peacock, not so much.  They are failing miserably with cartoons.

But with Paramount, there are very many question marks.  I have my own predictions and questions about the service.

How vast will the Nickelodeon Library be?

First of all, I already said what's on CBS All Access will carry over to Paramount +, and with Nickelodeon, there already is a lot.  We already talked about Spongebob, but there are tons of Nick shows already on here and even some harder to find shows such as Chalkzone, My Life as a Teenage Robot, and The Mighty B are all there ready to go.  Even the controversial Ren and Stimpy is there (oh by the way, I predict no Adult Party Cartoon thankfully).  There is still a mess however.  The Wild Thornberries, Rocko's Modern Life, Rocket Power, and some others are not in complete series.  The Loud House is only the first 3 seasons even though it's an ongoing show as is The Casagrandes, which is no where to be found.  Music clearance issues are still in place with A Rugrats Vacation, which is why it's not on here.  I have a feeling episodes not completing the series may eventually end up on Paramount +.  Interestingly enough, a lot of Double Dare can be found already (do not freak out that is says Season 1 only, there are TONS of episodes listed, over 125 probably more), here's hoping Legends of the Hidden Temple and other Nickelodeon Game Shows end up on here.

Is this the end of NickHits?

First of all I predict that Paramount +'s success or failure weighs down on one brand.....Nickelodeon.  Despite everything, Nickelodeon is still the #1 kids channel.  Even though the main channel is mostly all Spongebob and Loud House, there are other Nickelodeon channels such as Nicktoons, Nick Jr, and TeenNick (with it's NickRewind brand), on Pluto TV there are more Nick TV channels such as their own Nickelodeon channel and Nick Jr channel separate from the main cable channels plus a Ninjia Turtles channel, a Dora the Explorer channel, and a Kids Channel which mostly showcases the Nick game shows.  On demand lets you watch the latest episodes on Nick.com (though you may need a cable subscription).  Also, many Youtube channels are out there officially with clip compilations and exclusive material and interestingly enough, one of the latest Casagrandes episodes was already leaked on Amazon Prime 2 months prior and at the same time, the second half of said episode is ready to watch on Youtube. This brings us to NickHits, which is a Roku channel that has a bunch of Nickelodeon shows, though it too doesn't have every single season of every single show, there is a lot on here.  A recent article stated that Viacom wants the main focus to be on Paramount +, and there tends to be a lot of overlapping with CBS All Access and NickHits.  I am going to guess that if parents still find it easier to find all the Nickelodeon shows on NickHits, it will remain.  UNLESS, it is well promoted that Nickelodeon will have a major presence on here, then who knows what will happen.

Is Pluto TV done?

That same article also indicates the end of Pluto TV.  For those that don't know, this app shows linear TV as opposed to streaming on demand.  There are multiple channels for different people and includes a bunch of different and unusual stuff.  I think unless a bunch of companies pull out like Shout Factory and other third parties, it could be the end since it's a subsidy of Viacom, but I wouldn't panic yet.

Where are the Terrytoons?  Will they be there?

My #1 question throughout all of this since Paramount has the rights to Mighty Mouse, Heckle and Jeckle, Deputy Dawg, Gandy Goose, Dinky Duck, Farmer Al Falfa, Terry Bears, etc.  The Terrytoons were a major part of CBS's history as that's where reruns of these theatrical cartoons aired constantly.  Especially their most popular character, Mighty Mouse.  Paramount has ignored this property for some time save for some licensing deals here and there.  I am making a bold prediction that at least Mighty Mouse will show up in some form.  Whether or not it will be the classic cartoons or the late 80's Ralph Bashki reboot I don't know.  Or....maybe they could do a new series on behalf of CBS and Nickelodeon.  Fortunately, CBS/Paramount seems to not care so much about them that they don't copyright strike the old Terrytoons, so until and unless Paramount + does something, this awesome Youtube channel will have to do.

How vast will the Classic Cartoon library be (if at all)?

I guess stuff from the 90's such as Rugrats are considered classics now and like I said, there shouldn't be any problems.  But what about the golden age stuff such as the old theatrical Paramount cartoons from both Fleischer and Famous Studios?  And how about the Puppetoons?  QT Hush anyone?  Here's my prediction, if they do, it may JUST BE Betty Boop since she's the most popular of the bunch and also there was a remaster project years ago for Olive Films.  Seeing the Noveltoons, Little Lulu, and Puppetoons would be a miracle, but I wouldn't get my hopes up.  Some other old cartoons I believe will make it are the 4 Peanuts movies (UPDATE: Bon Voyage Charlie Brown is already on CBS All Access and will carry over to Paramount +), Charlotte's Web, and the three Dr. Seuss Specials that they own the broadcasting and streaming rights to (but again, no new restorations that Warner Bros. made for home video).

And now for my boldest prediction............with Alvin and the Chipmunks being a part of Nickelodeon now.....will we see more Chipmunks content??????

Here we go, you heard it here first, I predict that the Bagdasarian family will strike a deal with Paramount + making it the exclusive home of Alvin and the Chimpunks.  Every single TV series including The Alvin Show, Alvin and the Chipmunks, and ALLVINNN and the Chipmunks will make it on here.  It won't happen at launch, but if the service is a hit with kids and kids are streaming the Nickelodeon Chipmunk series, we may see more.  If I'm right, you can come back to this page and say "hey....you did good man."  On that note, I expect to see the same thing with Garfield and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles now that they are both owned by Nickelodeon.

It's like I said with the last prediction post, I don't think everything will happen at once, but I do think as time goes by we will see more things and I think this will be a vast streaming service regardless of what us animation fans get.