Paramount plus has announced it will raise its subscription prices in the United States starting January 15, 2026. The company states the increase will fund significant new content, including exclusive UFC fights and high-profile shows. This is the first price change since Skydance Media acquired Paramount in a landmark $8 billion merger.
The New Subscription Costs
The price change affects both monthly and annual plans. Each tier will see a $1 increase per month.
- The Paramount+ Essential plan (with ads) will rise from $7.99 to $8.99 per month.
- The Paramount+ Premium plan (ad-free) will increase from $12.99 to $13.99 per month.
Annual plans are also becoming more expensive. The annual Essential plan is moving to $89.99, and the Premium annual plan is increasing to $139.99.
Why Is The Price Going Up?
Company executives directly link the price hike to major new investments in content. Paramount CEO David Ellison explained that the changes are necessary to support a stronger lineup of programming and improve the user experience.
“Our ongoing investments in Paramount+ are enhancing the value we deliver to consumers,” Ellison wrote in a shareholder letter. “These changes will fuel continued reinvestment in the user experience and deliver an even stronger slate of programming for our customers.”
The most significant new content is the addition of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) events. Paramount recently secured a seven-year, $7.7 billion deal for the UFC rights. Starting in 2026, Paramount+ will become the exclusive streaming home for UFC pay-per-view events in the U.S., and they will be included at no extra cost to subscribers.
Ellison highlighted the value this brings, noting that for the price of about one traditional pay-per-view event, a Paramount+ subscription will now offer access to all UFC content.
More Than Just Sports
Beyond live sports, Paramount is also spending heavily on entertainment. The company has signed exclusive, multi-year deals with top creators. This includes the Duffer Brothers, the minds behind Stranger Things, and South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone. South Park has already been a major driver of new subscriptions for the service.
The company plans to increase its film slate and refresh its content library more frequently. Popular original series like Tulsa King, Landman, and Dexter: Resurrection are part of the strategy to keep subscribers engaged.
A Changing Streaming Landscape
This marks the third price hike for Paramount+ in three years. The service has been gradually increasing its cost to subscribers since 2023. The company is also making other changes to its business model, including removing free trials for new subscribers and reviewing its discount practices.
The move is part of a broader trend in the streaming industry. Many major services, including Netflix, Disney+, and HBO Max, have raised their prices over the past year as they focus on becoming profitable.
Paramount+ ended September 2025 with 79.1 million subscribers. The company expects its direct-to-consumer division, which includes the streaming service, to become profitable in 2026.
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