Adverts on Paramount +

[Barrowboy63]

Good morning. 

I hope I'm posting this in the right place.

I've subscribed to Sky Stream since March '23 and have Sky Cinema with Paramount +. We watch it quite a lot and have never seen adverts interupting the content until last night 22/01/25.  This was the same when watching on on other devices such as Apple TV or the Paramount + iOS, no adverts but now since yesterday there they are. Most frustrating as Mrs. Barrovian hates ads, especially those that you can't skip. Looking at my account it says I have Paramount + Basic with ads.  I'm 99% sure that wasnt the case before. Have I missed something as I've had no warning from Sky as to this change. Is there a way to upgrade to a 'no ads' tier. It's doubly frustrating as I also pay for ad skipping.

Has anyone else suddenly found ads popping up in Paramount content?

** EDIT** Immdiately after posting I saw the item in the News section which answers my question. Very disappointing**

[Skram_60]

Hi all

Just found out that my Ultimate Tv package that includes Paramount Plus has been reduced to Basic plus ads

Contacted Sky who didn't know that this had happened 

If you have Paramount as part of your subscription check it out 

Looks like Paramount are having a 3 tier system 

Basic Standard and Premium that is being brought in under the radar

(removed)

MODERATOR NOTE: Inappropriate content removed.

[lettice]

Have a read of the news article about this change on this community;

https://helpforum.sky.com/t5/Sky-TV/Changes-to-Paramount-Subscription-with-Sky/ba-p/4882005

[Barrowboy63]

Hi @lettice 

Yes, I saw this immediately after posting.

Is this the only way Sky disseminated this decision? A post on a  community group that I suspect the vast majority of users don't visit? I had no contact from Sky advising me of this change and only found out about it when ads started popping up. 

Such bad form from Sky who have just further cemented their reputation for fleecing customers with this move.  

[Zoltron]

To be honest I only took Sky Movies as part of a contract because I wanted paramount in the form it was originally given at the time of taking on the contract.

I feel this is a significant and detrimental change to the contract. If I knew this I would have taken a paramount option directly with paramount and not bothered with Sky Movies.

[mikealanr]

@Barrowboy63 

It's paramount that has decided to introduce adverts as they want users to upgrade to a higher tier, that can't really be pinned on Sky. However I agree better communication from Sky my have helped.

MikeAlanR

[Barrowboy63]

I've contacted Paramount. Surprise surprise, they blame Sky. Either way, what should have happened IMO is that the option to move to a higher tier should have been in place before downgrading the service we have signed up for and Sky should have publicised well in advance.

Right now, it just feels as though they're taking us for mugs. The appeal of being tied to Sky when so many other options are available is rapidly diminishing. 

[Skram_60]

https://helpforum.sky.com/t5/Sky-TV/Changes-to-Paramount-Subscription-with-Sky/ba-p/4882005

link forwarded by Paramount Plus

[Skram_60]

A moderator put my new thread here

looks like I'm late to the party having read all posts 

I only found out last night (22nd) that things had changed when I had lost episodes downloaded to my tablet

Not impressed tbh

I'd rather not have to pay more to be ad free but the fact there's no option is disappointing 

It would be better to pay £3 for standard than having to pay £8

[mr.tickle]

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@Barrowboy63 wrote:

I've contacted Paramount. Surprise surprise, they blame Sky. Either way, what should have happened IMO is that the option to move to a higher tier should have been in place before downgrading the service we have signed up for and Sky should have publicised well in advance.

---

Yes, but Paramount might not have given Sky that option. We don't know the timescales of internal discussions between the two companies, and it's technical as well as contractual. Bear in mind that Paramount's own app on many platforms has struggled desperately, and it is many years behind Netflix and Disney+ in look and feel, functionality, and usability.

Since the Basic-with-ads is Paramount's replacement for the previous standard deal, it very easily could be the case that the only way to switch internally is the way it's been done.

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@Barrowboy63 wrote:

Right now, it just feels as though they're taking us for mugs. The appeal of being tied to Sky when so many other options are available is rapidly diminishing. 

---

[Hunter2660]

I can accept the ads providing they're inserted in appropriate places, not just randomly. Disney+ has this about right. Youtube is awful, and Amazon Prime not much better. But I agree given the option of another tier would be preferable.

[Barrowboy63]

"Since the Basic-with-ads is Paramount's replacement for the previous standard deal..."

Except that it isnt really a fair replacement. We were getting the Standard no ads tier which costs £7.99 and is still available direct through Paramount. We've been bumped down to the ads version which would cost £4.99 pm so either Sky or Paramount are benefiting from this. One thing is certain though, it's not the customer. We are paying Sky the same amount for a reduced service. 

[Jason+Golding]

I agree. It's not like paramount plus have increased the cost of the plan that sky cinema customers enjoyed. 

It's a downgrade, I suspect that OFCOM were made aware of this detrimental change, and the lack of written communication from Sky, they would not be impressed. 

why couldn't Sky have sent all cinema subscribers a polite email informing them of the downgrade. Really poor 

[Ness1975]

We have been back with Sky 3 months since a long break and I have just been reminded again why I left in the first

place. Why are Sky allowed to behave like this with absolutely no comeback for consumers?? Surely Ofcom would not approve of this practice??? We will certainly be cancelling Cinema at the earliest possible opportunity. 

[TrebleTA]

Just read this and wanted to say before  I was getting 4k now I'm on some basic with ads. This is odd, I also will be more than likely cancelling. We pay for a service, not to give us ads, there should be just 1 package. This is greed on a new level.