Paramount Skydance to Increase Investment in Content and Streaming Prices
David Ellison’s Paramount Skydance is gearing up to spend more on content while also planning to raise prices for its streaming service, Paramount+.
In its Q3 2025 report, the company announced that its investments in Paramount+ are aimed at providing enhanced value to consumers. To support these ongoing investments, Paramount+ will implement price increases in the U.S. early in the first quarter of 2026.
Effective January 15, 2026, Paramount+ will raise prices in the U.S. The Essential (ad-supported) plan will see a $1 increase to $8.99 per month, while the Premium (ad-free) plan will rise by $1 to $13.99 per month. Annual plans for both tiers will also see an increase, with the Essential plan moving to $89.99 per year and the Premium plan to $139.99 per year.
Paramount Skydance has also announced upcoming price hikes in Canada and Australia as part of its strategy to reinvest in the user experience and offer a stronger lineup of programming. This move follows recent deals such as the $7.7 billion agreement with UFC, making Paramount+ the exclusive home for the MMA promoter’s events.
Despite the price increases, Paramount+ remains competitively priced in the U.S. market, offering a range of popular original series, franchises, films, and sports coverage. The service ended September 2025 with 79.1 million subscribers, reflecting steady growth.
Paramount Skydance’s acquisition of Paramount Global in August 2025 has paved the way for increased investment in programming. The company plans to invest over $1.5 billion in 2026, including direct-to-consumer initiatives, original content, and third-party licensing. This investment will also support an expanded film slate of 15 movies annually.
For the third quarter of 2025, Paramount’s direct-to-consumer revenue increased by 17%, driven by a 24% rise in Paramount+ revenue. The company reported adjusted earnings of $105 million and $235 million before and after the Paramount Global acquisition, respectively.
Starting in Q4 2025, Paramount Skydance will only count paid Paramount+ subscribers in its reported figures, excluding free trial users. As of the end of Q3, the service had 1.2 million free trial subscribers.
