No, CBS All Access is Not Free With Amazon Prime in 2022

I often get asked by fellow ecommerce sellers if CBS All Access comes free with an Amazon Prime membership. The short answer is no – it was rebranded to Paramount+ in 2021, and is not included as part of a Prime subscription.

But as an experienced Amazon seller, I want to provide a detailed guide explaining everything you need to know about CBS All Access, Paramount+, Prime Video, and add-on streaming options.

Whether you already sell on Amazon or are thinking of starting, streaming services are a nice perk you may want to take advantage of. Read on for insights from an ecommerce expert‘s perspective!

A Quick Refresher: What Was CBS All Access?

Let‘s start with a quick rundown of what CBS All Access was before rebranding to Paramount+ in March 2021:

• Launched in 2014 as a streaming service for current & past CBS content
• Offered original shows like Star Trek: Discovery and The Good Fight
• Streamed live sports including NFL games and NCAA March Madness
• On-demand library of CBS series like Big Brother, NCIS, Survivor, etc.
• Local live CBS stations – a big sell for cord cutters!

CBS All Access helped fulfill CBS‘ goal to compete with Netflix and Hulu. But to truly challenge the major streaming players, CBS expanded the scope and relaunched as Paramount+ in 2021.

Paramount+ vs Amazon Prime Video – What‘s the Difference?

As an ecommerce seller, you may already pay for Amazon Prime to access benefits like free shipping. But Paramount+ does not come included with a Prime membership.

Here‘s a quick rundown of the differences between the two major streaming services:

The Essential Paramount+ plan is $4.99/month with ads. To remove ads, it‘s $9.99/month.

An Amazon Prime Video membership costs $14.99/month or $139/year.

So if you want both, you‘ll need to pay for each service separately. But Prime members can add Paramount+ through Prime Video Channels.

Next let‘s look at some streaming library comparisons.

Battle of Streaming Libraries: Paramount+ vs. Prime Video

As an Amazon seller, you likely want access to a deep streaming content library. How do Paramount+ and Prime Video compare?

Paramount+ touts a library of:

• 30,000+ episodes of TV shows
• 2,500+ movies, plus new releases like Top Gun: Maverick
• Hundreds of Paramount+ originals – Tulsa King, 1923, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, etc.
• Live sports like NFL, March Madness, soccer, PGA Tour

Prime Video doesn‘t disclose exact numbers but reports "thousands of titles" including:

• Prime originals – The Boys, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Reacher, etc.
• Movies – major studio releases like The Tomorrow War, Coming 2 America
• TV series – House, Downton Abbey, Bosch, New Girl, Mr. Robot
• Classic favorites – The Sopranos, Lost, Seinfeld, Spongebob Squarepants

Both have extensive libraries spanning movies, shows, sports, and buzzy originals. But Paramount+ likely edges out Prime Video in sheer volume, especially when including live sports.

Next let‘s compare the all-important original content.

Paramount+ vs. Prime Video Originals

For streaming services, original exclusives can make or break subscriptions. How do Paramount+ and Prime Video stack up here?

Some of Paramount+‘s most popular original titles include:

• 1883 – Western prequel to Yellowstone starring Tim McGraw
• Star Trek: Strange New Worlds – Latest addition to the Star Trek universe
• The Offer – Drama about making The Godfather film
• Halo – Series adaptation of the bestselling Xbox game
• The Good Fight – Critical darling legal/political drama
• Mayor of Kingstown – Crime thriller from Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan

Meanwhile, Amazon spends billions creating originals for Prime Video like:

• The Boys – Subversive superhero drama
• The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel – Award-winning comedy series
• Jack Ryan – Action series based on Tom Clancy books
• The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power – Fantasy prequel series
• Reacher – Alan Ritchson‘s adaptation of Lee Child books
• The Terminal List – Thriller series starring Chris Pratt

Both streamers are investing heavily in exclusive originals to drive subscriptions. Paramount+ likely has the edge in volume, but Prime Video‘s originals budget is unmatched.

Adding Paramount+ to Your Prime Video

Although not free, adding Paramount+ to your Prime Video account is straightforward. You can subscribe right in the Prime Video interface.

Here are the current Paramount+ subscription options for Amazon Prime members:

The Essential plan is the most affordable at just $4.99/month. But it contains ads and lacks your live local CBS station.

To remove ads and add your CBS live feed, upgrade to Premium for $9.99/month.

You can also bundle Showtime for $2-$5 more per month. The annual plans offer around 16% savings if you prepay for the year.

Next, let‘s explore some other popular add-on channels.

More Add-On Streaming Channels for Prime Members

One perk of Amazon Prime Video is access to additional channel subscriptions right from the Prime interface. It‘s a convenient way to centralize multiple streamers.

Some popular Prime Video channels include:

With Prime Video Channels, you can pick and choose which networks to add for a customized streaming package.

Most channels range from $4.99 to $10.99 per month. It‘s easy to manage through one Prime Video interface versus juggling multiple streaming apps.

Amazon Prime Membership Benefits and Costs

Obviously the main reason ecommerce sellers subscribe to Amazon Prime is for the included shipping benefits. But Prime Video itself packs value.

Some of my favorite Amazon Prime Video perks include:

• Watch anywhere: Mobile app allows downloading for offline viewing
• X-Ray features: Get actor, soundtrack and trivia info as you stream
• Shareable clips: Easily share your favorite scenes on social media
• Watch Parties: Group streaming with distant friends
• Amazon exclusives: Fresh original movies and shows not on other streamers

For $14.99/month or $139/year, a Prime membership includes far more than just streaming:

• Free 1-day and 2-day shipping on millions of items
• Prime Early Access for deals and new releases
• Prime Wardrobe for at-home try-on
• Free books and magazines on Prime Reading
• Free games and loot with Prime Gaming
• Prime Day deals in July
• Discounts at Whole Foods Market
• Prescription savings through Prime Rx

The list goes on. For frequent Amazon shoppers, a Prime subscription quickly pays for itself.

Should You Add Paramount+ to Your Prime Account?

As an experienced ecommerce seller, my honest take is that Paramount+ is a nice complement for Prime members who:

• Want to centralize streaming services under their Prime account
• Highly value access to live sports like NFL and NCAA games
• Have a strong interest in CBS and Paramount programming specifically

However, if you‘re only casually interested in Paramount+ content, it may not be worth the additional $4.99+ monthly charge. Evaluate your personal streaming priorities.

Amazon Prime Video itself offers robust entertainment options for ecommerce sellers invested in the wider Prime ecosystem. But Paramount+ is a strong choice for those seeking more variety.

I hope this detailed streaming services comparison helps you make the best decision for your needs! Let me know if you have any other questions.