ViacomCBS has confirmed its Australian subscription streaming service, 10 All Access, will be rebranded as Paramount+ in 2021.
The rebrand comes as part of a broader plan from the entertainment giant as it looks to turn Paramount+ into a global platform designed to compete with Netflix, Amazon and Disney+.
As part of the announcement, ViacomCBS has announced details of 3 new series that will be available in Australia on Paramount+
THE OFFER, a scripted limited event series based on Oscar-winning producer Al Ruddy’s extraordinary, never-revealed experiences of making “The Godfather.”
The 10-episode event series is written and executive produced by Michael Tolkin (“Escape at Dannemora” and “The Player”). Ruddy will also serve as executive producer, and Emmy-winning producer Leslie Greif (“Hatfields & McCoys”) will executive produce and be a writer on the series.
LIONESS, a spy drama created by Taylor Sheridan (“Yellowstone”) with Sheridan, Jill Wagner, David Glasser, David Hutkin, and Bob Yari set to executive produce.Based on a real-life CIA program, LIONESS follows a young Marine recruited to befriend the daughter of a terrorist to bring the organization down from within. The series is produced by Paramount Network and 101 Studios.
Paramount+ will also become the exclusive home of SHOWTIME premieres, including the hour-long drama FIRST LADIES, starring and executive produced by Oscar, Emmy and Tony winner Viola Davis, who will play former first lady Michelle Obama.
The rebooted streaming service will also offer previously announced titles including Showtime series Halo and American Rust, and CBS All Access originals including Guilty Party and The Harper House.
This programming will join 10 All Access’ existing offering of more than 10,000 episodes and movies from CBS, CW and Network 10, as well as original series like The Good Fight, The Twilight Zone, Tooning Out The News, Interrogation, Why Women Kill and Tell Me A Story.
Full details of the Australian offering including pricing are yet to be confirmed, but it’s expected the new platform will also combine movies from Paramount Pictures and premieres and box sets from Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon and Paramount Network, as well as sourcing further original content from ViacomCBS International Studios.
The decision to make Paramount+ the new home of Showtime content in Australia comes as an existing deal between Showtime and Stan is set to expire.
Stan is expected to lose around 500 hours of library content including shows such as Californication, Happyish, Nurse Jackie and Dexter. Showtime titles currently in production including Billions are expected to remain on Stan for the entire run of the series.
David Lynn, President and CEO, ViacomCBS Networks International (VCNI), said:
“With the global launch of Paramount+ we are poised to become as powerful a player in streaming as we are in TV. VCNI is focused on building a meaningful, global brand presence in our key markets, generating material advertising, subscription and licensing revenue from streaming.
“By leveraging the iconic Paramount brand, leading-edge infrastructure from ViacomCBS along with an incredible, super-sized pipeline of must-see content, Paramount+ will deliver an exceptional consumer entertainment experience and significantly disrupt the streaming industry.”
Chief Content Officer & Executive Vice President of ViacomCBS Australia & New Zealand, Beverley McGarvey, aaded:
“Paramount” as a brand means nothing to Australians.
Even as someone that follows media closely enough to be reading a site like this, I don’t think of Showtime, Nick, Comedy Central, MTV, Network 10 when I see Paramount.
They had a real opportunity here… I doubt the Australian team had any say here.
… so once the name 10 All Access disappears and Paramount + is bedded in there’s no need for the 10 Network any more for ViacomCBS … fire sale coming …