Last updated on 2026-03-30, by Sunny Wen

Does Paramount Plus Have Live TV? Full Guide

With the development of streaming media, the viewing demands of users have become increasingly diverse. This is reflected in the fact that more and more users not only watch on-demand content but also have a growing demand for live TV. Paramount+, as a mature streaming media platform, has already established a position in the streaming media field, especially in live TV, by leveraging CBS’s vast sports resources. It provides over 30,000 episodes of TV series, 2,500 films, and more than 1,000 live sports events as well as a rich on-demand music library every year. This guide will comprehensively explain the live TV functions of this service and help you determine if it suits your needs.

Part 1: Does Paramount Plus Have Live TV?

Does paramount plus have live TV? The answer is Yes. However, the Paramount plus live TV service provided may vary depending on the subscription package you choose. The service provided by the essential is much more limited compared to the premium. For example, this is reflected in the live channels and on-demand content. Considering that you may not be very familiar with the differences between live TV and on-demand content, let me use a table to simply explain here.

Part 2: What Live Channels Are Available on Paramount+?

The live channels provided by Paramount Plus can be classified into four main categories: sports, news, entertainment, and special event live broadcasts. For a clearer understanding, I will list the specific channels that fall under each category.

1. Sports

CBS Sports Live Broadcast: Local CBS TV station (only for Premium plan), NFL, NCAA basketball championships, PGA golf masters, etc.
UFC Events: All UFC Nights and paid main events.
Football events: UEFA Champions League, Europa League, Europa Conference League, as well as NWSL.
CBS Sports HQ: 24/7 sports news, game highlights and data analysis.

2. News

CBS News 24/7: all-day news coverage, covering current events both at home and abroad.
Local CBS News: The Premium plan allows you to watch live news broadcasts from local CBS affiliates.

3. Entertainment

Showtime East/West: Premium Plan Exclusive.
Mixible: A channel featuring entertainment news and celebrity information.
Thematic live streaming: Approximately 20 specially curated thematic channels by the platform’s editors, covering classic TV series, movies, etc.

4. Special Event Live Broadcast

Grammy Awards (Premium Program).
Super Bowl (broadcast by CBS in certain years).
Other CBS special programs.

It should be noted that Paramount Plus does not include the following common live streaming channels: CNN, FOX-News, ESPN, TNT, USA-Network, etc. This is fundamentally different from complete cable TV alternatives such as YouTube TV.

Paramount+ Plans and Pricing

Paramount+’s two subscription plans differ not only in live channels, but also in other aspects. I made a table to provide a detailed comparison:

Paramount+ Live TV vs Other Streaming Services

If simply introducing Paramount live TV is not enough to give you a clearer understanding, then I will compare Paramount Plus with the two major mainstream streaming services, YouTube TV and Hulu Live TV, in the hope of showing you its advantages and disadvantages:

Conclusion

Paramount Plus’s live TV feature is precise in positioning rather than comprehensive coverage. Although it may not be as extensive as services like YouTube TV in terms of the number of channels and YouTube TV DVR capabilities, etc., it offers three core live values at a lower price: CBS sports events, live news, and Showtime exclusive content. Overall, if you have the following characteristics, Paramount Plus is a good choice. First, a lower budget—at $13.99/month, you can get Showtime, CBS local channels, and sports live broadcasts, which is cost-effective. Second, your main viewing needs focus on CBS content, UFC events, and Showtime series. Third, you do not have high demands for cloud DVR features. Personally, I suggest you can fully take advantage of the free trial period it offers.