23 Jul Paramount+ Is Turning Its Paywall Into a Sales Funnel [The Streaming Wars]
By Kirby Grines
July 23, 2026| Paramount+ plans to give registered non-subscribers free access to select movies and shows, beginning with its mobile app in the third quarter, according to Business Insider, which reviewed an internal presentation. The company views the feature as a way to drive acquisition, reactivate former subscribers, build advertising inventory, and give consumers more reasons to keep the app installed. The strategy makes sense because Paramount+ needs a lower-friction path between awareness and an $8.99 monthly commitment. Paramount needs to operate free viewing as a conversion product, with every programming and interface decision tied to a measurable customer outcome.
Paramount+ raised its U.S. subscription prices in January, bringing its ad-supported plan to $8.99 per month and its Premium plan to $13.99. Each increase raises the amount of confidence a consumer needs before subscribing, particularly for a service that sits below Netflix in household priority and competes for a discretionary slot in an increasingly expensive bundle of entertainment products.
Read more on The Streaming Wars.
Related Articles
US States Preparing Lawsuit To Block Paramount’s Acquisition Of Warner Bros, Sources Say [Reuters $]
Streamer Subscription Prices And Tiers – Everything To Know As Prices Increase And Ads Abound [Deadline]