Paramount+ will be associated with the Walmart+ membership program

Walmart has reached an agreement with Paramount Global to include the Paramount+ streaming service as part of the retail giant's Walmart+ membership program starting in September.

The Paramount+ Essential package, which includes ads, will be available at no additional cost to Walmart+ members. In the US, Paramount+ Essential regularly costs $4.99/month. The Essential plan does not include local live CBS stations (only available in Paramount + Premium, $9.99/month), but does have NFL and UEFA Champions League games available via live streams distinct.

Walmart's move aims to make Walmart+, which launched in September 2020, more competitive with Amazon's Prime by adding a streaming entertainment component. Walmart+ costs $12.95 per month (or $98 per year), giving subscribers same-day delivery on more than 160,000 products. Program members can also save up to 10 cents per gallon on gas at over 14,000 participating stations nationwide and get up to six months of free Spotify Premium membership.

Paramount+ offers thousands of titles, including original dramas such as '1883' and 'Star Trek: Strange New Worlds'; recent movies like “Sonic the Hedgehog 2”; live sports; and content from the media conglomerate's CBS, BET, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon and MTV brands.

"Walmart customers connect with Paramount's favorite brands, content and characters every day through a range of consumer products available at Walmart stores," said Jeff Shultz, chief strategy officer and chief business development officer. from Paramount Streaming, in a prepared statement. "Now, combining Walmart's vast reach across the country with Paramount+'s broad and popular content that offers something for everyone is a unique opportunity to expand our partnership."

In announcing second quarter results, Paramount said Paramount+ now had 43.3 million paying customers, a net increase of 3.7 million from the June quarter (including 1.2 million disconnections in Russia ).

The streaming deal between Walmart and Paramount was first made by The Wall Street Journal. Walmart does not disclose the number of Walmart+ members. According to a survey by Morgan Stanley in May, the service has about 16 million members compared to about 15 million in November 2021, as quoted by the Journal.

"With the addition of Paramount+, we are demonstrating our unique ability to help members save even more and live better by also providing entertainment at a lower cost," said Chris Cracchiolo, SVP and GM from Walmart+, in a press release.< /p>

Last week, The New York Times reported that Walmart was in talks with Paramount, Disney, and Comcast (whose NBCUniversal division operates Peacock) about potential combination deals for Walmart+.

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