CBS today launched a streaming package targeting cord-cutters that combines the broadcaster’s CBS All Access service along with Showtime. CBS is pricing the combined streaming package starting at $14.99, a savings of $1.99 compared to the price of separate subscriptions to both services. The new bundle was initially announced last week by CBS CEO Leslie Moonves, but unfortunately the deal is currently only offered to existing subscribers. Additionally, you’ll have to upgrade to the new package through the website, as this is not possible via the app at this time. If you’re already a subscriber of either streaming service, you can log in and upgrade in your account settings.
When purchased separately, CBS All Access costs $5.99 per month, while Showtime’s streaming option costs $10.99. CBS All Access users who wish to stream on a commercial-free basis can upgrade their service to $9.99 per month. A combined commercial-free package that includes CBS All Access and Showtime is also available at $18.99 for a similar $1.99 savings for the bundle. With its All Access plan, CBS also includes streaming-only exclusives that aren’t broadcasted on the network, including shows like the new Star Trek: Discovery, a Big Brother reality show that’s exclusive to streaming viewers and The Good Fight, a spinoff to CBS’s highly rated The Good Wife. With original content, CBS is competing against Amazon Prime Video and Netflix for subscribers. The bundle also competes with other streaming TV services, including DIRECTV NOW, YouTube TV, Hulu, Sling TV and PlayStation Vue. To date, CBS is the only broadcast network that has its own streaming service. It’s estimated that CBS All Access and Showtime each have approximately 1.65 million subscribers as of February, up from a million subscribers each from July 2016.
The network also announced earlier this week that it has reached an agreement with its affiliates to offer live local streams on digital platforms, including CBS All Access. Currently, 90 percent of Americans receive their local station through CBS All Access, and that number is expected to rise with the new agreement. Hopefully, the agreement will help CBS make its programming available on competing streaming services. CBS is available on PlayStation Vue, Hulu’s emerging streaming service and YouTube TV, but it is missing from AT&T’s DIRECTV NOW.