Paramount+ Absorbs BET+ as Local TV Blackouts Accelerate
Paramount Global is shutting down its standalone BET+ streaming service, migrating its content to Paramount+ to consolidate its Black-focused programming. Simultaneously, local TV blackouts are increasing due to station owner consolidation, prompting Sinclair Broadcast Group to promote ATSC 3.0 (NextGen TV) for free over-the-air television to address these industry pressures.
Key Takeaways
- BET+, launched in 2019, will cease standalone operations by mid-August 2026; new sign-ups are no longer supported.
- Over 1,000 hours of BET+ original content, including Tyler Perry titles, will transfer to Paramount+, with select films also going to Pluto TV.
- Local TV blackouts are increasing due to station owner consolidation, like E.W. Scripps Company stations being dark on Comcast Xfinity and DIRECTV for weeks.
- Sinclair Broadcast Group is campaigning for ATSC 3.0 (NextGen TV) in Columbus, Ohio, offering free over-the-air access to major network affiliates.
Why It Matters
The streaming industry continues to contract specialized services into flagship platforms, prioritizing efficiency and broader audience reach over niche offerings. Concurrently, intensifying retransmission consent disputes highlight the fragility of traditional pay-TV models and push consumers toward alternative content access. This dual pressure indicates a market shift where content ownership and distribution control are central, potentially accelerating adoption of free over-the-air solutions like ATSC 3.0 if blackouts persist.
Additional Context
The integration of BET+ into Paramount+ follows Paramount Global's acquisition of Tyler Perry Studios' stake in BET+, which was announced in March 2026 (Deadline, March 2026). This move parallels Paramount's 2023 consolidation of Showtime's standalone streaming platform into Paramount+ with Showtime, now rebranded as Paramount+ Premium (Deadline, March 2026). The company's CEO, David Ellison, has signaled a broader strategy to unify streaming operations, including a potential merger of Paramount+ and HBO Max post-acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery (The Hollywood Reporter, June 2026). Louis Carr, BET Networks President, emphasized that the shift expands the reach of BET content, which will be housed in a dedicated "BET Hub" within Paramount+, leveraging Paramount+'s 80 million subscribers compared to BET+'s estimated 3.5 million (Deadline, March 2026). This strategy aims to reduce overhead and enhance content discovery while maintaining the brand's cultural significance (Yahoo, June 2026). Existing BET+ subscribers are being offered promotional Paramount+ pricing to facilitate the transition (Cord Cutters News, June 2026).
Read full article at cordcuttersnews.com
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