Not long ago, I wrote about how to get more streaming TV content by using services you might already have, and I highlighted a few common memberships that come with a "free" streaming perk. At the time, I mentioned that a Walmart Plus membership included a subscription to the ad-supported Paramount Plus Essentials plan. That benefit is still there, but now, Walmart Plus members have a choice. The company has now added Peacock to its list of streaming partners, giving subscribers the choice between two different services.
The Options: Paramount Plus Essentials vs. Peacock Premium
Both of these services are popular choices, and each offers a lot of content, but they are very different.
Peacock Premium, which is the service included with a Walmart Plus membership, offers a wide variety of content. The ad-supported plan gives you next-day access to new episodes of NBC and Bravo shows, plus thousands of hours of movies and TV series. You also get a solid selection of live sports, which for me is a huge benefit, including many Big Ten games.
The Paramount Plus Essentials plan, which is also ad-supported, focuses on a different set of content. This service gives you access to a huge library of shows and movies from across the ViacomCBS family, including CBS originals, reality TV from MTV and VH1, and kids' shows from Nickelodeon. It's a great choice if you're looking for a broad range of general entertainment.
Why the Upgrade Path Matters
While it’s nice to have a choice, there is one major difference between the two benefits, and it’s a big deal. For me, it’s the deciding factor.
The Paramount Plus Essentials benefit allows you to upgrade to the ad-free Paramount Plus Premium plan for an additional $5.49 a month or $64.99 per year. This upgrade is worthwhile because it also includes the full Showtime library, as well as live streaming of your local CBS station.
In contrast, the Peacock Premium benefit offered with Walmart Plus does not include a similar discounted upgrade path. If a user wanted to get the ad-free Peacock Premium Plus service, they would have to pay for a full subscription directly to Peacock. For someone like me who prefers to pay to eliminate ads when possible, this makes all the difference.
The addition of Peacock to the Walmart Plus membership is a great move, and having a choice is always a good thing. For some people, the content on Peacock might be exactly what they want. But for me, the option to upgrade to an ad-free plan with my local CBS channel makes Paramount Plus the clear winner.
My Streaming Life continues to evolve as companies offer new ways for cord-cutters to get more content for less.
Comments
Post a Comment
Your comments are welcome. Abusive or off-topic comments will be removed.