Honestly, the streaming wars reached a fever pitch in late 2024, and Paramount Plus was right in the thick of it. If you were looking for the Paramount Plus Black Friday 2024 offers, you probably noticed they didn't just stick to one simple price point. It was a bit of a chaotic scramble. Everyone wanted to see if they could get Yellowstone or the NFL on CBS for pennies on the dollar. They delivered, but only if you knew where to look and which tier actually offered the value.
Most people just head to the homepage. Big mistake.
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In November 2024, the primary promotion was a massive 85% discount for new and returning subscribers. That brought the Essential plan—the one with ads—down to just $2.50 per month for an entire year. For context, the standard price had recently hiked up to $7.99. It was a aggressive move to grab market share from Netflix and Disney+. But there was a catch that caught a lot of folks off guard: the Paramount+ with SHOWTIME tier was also discounted, but not quite as drastically in terms of percentage. That one dropped to $4.99 per month, down from its usual $12.99.
What Really Happened with the 2024 Bundle Deals
There is a weird thing about streaming deals that most "experts" ignore. The best price isn't always on the brand's own website.
During the Paramount Plus Black Friday 2024 window, we saw some incredible "hidden" entries via third-party retailers. Amazon Prime Video Channels and Apple TV+ often mirror these deals, but the real winner was the Walmart+ connection. For those who don't know, a Walmart+ membership actually includes Paramount+ Essential for free as a permanent perk. During Black Friday, Walmart slashed their annual membership to $49. If you did the math, you weren't just getting a streaming service; you were getting free grocery delivery and shipping for less than the cost of a few pizzas. It made the standalone Paramount deal look almost unnecessary for frequent shoppers.
Why the Price Hike Changed the Stakes
You have to remember that 2024 was the year of the "Streamflation."
Earlier in the summer, Paramount Global raised prices across the board. The Essential plan went up by a buck, and the Showtime tier went up by two. By the time November rolled around, consumers were grumpy. The Black Friday 2024 sale wasn't just a "nice to have"—it was a retention strategy. The company was bleeding cash and needed to boost their subscriber count before their merger with Skydance Media became the primary focus of 2025.
It worked.
The offer usually kicks off the week before Thanksgiving and runs through Cyber Monday, sometimes stretching into a "Cyber Week" if the numbers look soft. In 2024, the "Black Friday" branding actually started as early as November 22nd. If you waited until the actual Friday, you were already late to the party.
The Content Strategy: Was It Worth $2.50?
Content is king, but the king has a lot of ads these days.
If you opted for the $2.50 Essential tier during the Paramount Plus Black Friday 2024 blowout, you had to make peace with commercial breaks. For some, it’s a dealbreaker. For others, it’s just a chance to go grab a snack while Special Ops: Lioness or Tulsa King takes a breather.
The real value in 2024 was the timing. Yellowstone Season 5, Part 2 premiered in November. Paramount knew exactly what they were doing. They dangled the cheap subscription right when the biggest show on cable was returning to its streaming home. However, a lot of users got frustrated. They realized that while they could watch the latest episodes, the "Essential" plan didn't include their local live CBS station except for NFL games. If you wanted to watch your local news or the full Showtime library, you had to spring for the $4.99 tier.
A Note on the "Returning Subscriber" Loophole
Here is something the marketing emails don't tell you. Paramount is surprisingly chill about what constitutes a "new" subscriber.
Historically, if your account has been inactive for at least 30 days, you can often jump back in on a Black Friday promo. In 2024, many users found they could simply use a different email address or wait out the month of October to qualify. It's a bit of a cat-and-mouse game. Some people even used virtual credit cards to bypass the "one per customer" filters. Is it ethical? That’s between you and your router. Is it effective? Absolutely.
Breaking Down the Actual Math
Let's look at the raw numbers because they tell a story about where the industry is headed.
- Essential Monthly (Standard): $7.99
- Essential Black Friday: $2.50 (Save $5.49/mo)
- Showtime Tier (Standard): $12.99
- Showtime Black Friday: $4.99 (Save $8.00/mo)
Over the course of 12 months, the Essential deal saved you roughly $65. The Showtime deal saved you nearly $100. When you compare that to the cost of a single movie ticket and popcorn in 2024, the value is undeniably there. But—and this is a big but—the "annual" billing option was often hidden. Paramount prefers the monthly billing cycle for these promos because they know a huge percentage of people will forget to cancel when the price jumps back to normal in 2025.
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Why 2024 Felt Different Than Previous Years
In 2022 and 2023, the deals were almost identical—usually $1.99. In 2024, that extra 50 cents signaled a shift. The "race to the bottom" is ending. Streamers are no longer trying to be the cheapest; they are trying to be the most "sustainable."
We also saw a heavy push toward "Bundling." Paramount+ started showing up in offers alongside DoorPass and other utility-style subscriptions. The Black Friday 2024 window saw a massive uptick in these "indirect" deals. You might not have even bought Paramount+ from Paramount. You might have gotten it through your T-Mobile "Magenta Status" or as an add-on to your Roku account.
How to Handle Your Subscription Moving Forward
If you signed up during the 2024 window, you have a ticking clock. Most of these deals are valid for exactly 12 months.
Check your billing date. Seriously. Go into the app settings right now.
Most people get hit with a "zombie subscription" charge in late 2025 because they forgot they signed up for a promotional rate. Set a calendar reminder for 11 months from your sign-up date. This gives you the leverage to cancel or, more likely, look for the next Black Friday deal.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Forgetting the App Device Limit: Paramount+ is notoriously picky about how many people are streaming at once on the cheaper tiers. If you shared your Black Friday login with three cousins, someone is getting kicked off during the Sunday night NFL game.
- Ignoring the Showtime Library: If you only got the Essential plan, you missed out on Yellowjackets and The Curse. Sometimes the extra $2 is worth it for the prestige cinema alone.
- Assuming it Includes "Live" TV: It doesn't. Not really. You get the NFL on CBS, and that’s a huge win, but don't expect to watch the Oscars or local news on the $2.50 plan.
Actionable Steps for the Post-Deal Phase
Check your current plan status by navigating to the Account section on a desktop browser rather than the mobile app, as the app often hides the "Cancel Subscription" button behind several layers of menus. If you are currently paying full price, you missed the 2024 window, but you shouldn't just sit there and take it.
Try the "Cancelation Retention" trick. Start the process of canceling your account. Often, the system will automatically trigger a "Stay with us for 2 months free" or "50% off for 3 months" offer just to keep you from hitting the final button. This works almost year-round, not just during Black Friday.
If you are a student, keep in mind that Paramount+ offers a 25% discount that is evergreen. It doesn't stack with Black Friday deals, but it's a solid fallback if you missed the November window. Always verify your status through SheerID to keep that rate active.
Lastly, keep an eye on your credit card "Offers" portal. Chase, Amex, and Capital One frequently run $3 to $5 cash-back statements for Paramount+ specifically. If you stack a credit card offer on top of a Black Friday promotional rate, you are basically getting the service for the price of a pack of gum. That is the only way to truly "win" at the streaming game in this economy.