Early Life And Education
Grouf was born and grew up in New York City. The son of Jon Grouf, a lawyer, and Dale Berger, an entrepreneur, he attended the . He was interested in both music and business, and attended . He graduated with a degree in American Studies in 1990 his senior thesis, an opera, won Yale’s Prize.
After Yale, Grouf was accepted at the . He deferred admission for three years, and instead returned to New York in September 1990, where he focused on media and technology as a business analyst at . In addition, he pursued a career as a musician, performing as a singer-songwriter. In 1993, he moved to Cambridge and enrolled at Harvard. Prior to earning his MBA in 1995, he served as an associate in Mergers & Acquisitions at .
Whats On Paramount Plus
Paramount Plus has all the exclusive shows and content available on CBS All Access, including its original series like The Good Fight, Star Trek Discovery, The Stand, and others. It also has a ton of library content from Paramount Pictures, CBS, and the many Viacom cable TV networks. You will be able to watch movies like all the Indiana Jones films, The Mission Impossible movies, and more.
Copyright Complaints Against Youtube
In February 2007, Viacom sent upwards of 100,000 takedown notices to the video-sharing site . Of the 100,000 notices, approximately 6070 non-infringing videos were removed under the auspices of copyright infringement.
On March 13, 2007, Viacom filed a US$1 billion legal claim against and YouTube alleging massive , alleging that users frequently uploaded copyrighted material to YouTubeenough to cause a hit in revenue for Viacom and a gain in advertisement revenue for YouTube. The complaint contended that almost 160,000 unauthorized clips of Viacom’s programming were made available on YouTube and that these clips had collectively been viewed more than 1.5 billion times.
In July 2008, the case generated controversy when District Judge ruled that YouTube was required to hand over data detailing the viewing habits of every user who had ever watched videos on the site. Judge Stanton rejected Viacom’s request for YouTube to hand over the of its system, saying that the code was a .Google and Viacom later agreed to allow Google to anonymize all the data before handing it over to Viacom.
On June 23, 2010, Judge Stanton ruled in Google’s favor in a motion for , holding that Google was protected by provisions of the , notwithstanding evidence of intentional copyright infringement. Viacom announced its intention to appeal the ruling.
The previous board of directors of Viacom were George S. Abrams, , , , , , , , , Frederic Salerno, William Schwartz, and .
You May Like: What Is Spectrum TV Gold Package
Upcoming Exclusive Drama TV Series
ViacomCBS is developing a ton of original scripted drama series for Paramount Plus, including some spin-offs from established franchises:
- Criminal Minds This will be a 10-episode revival of the hit CBS crime series, about the FBI division that goes after serial killers.
- Land Man A series centering on the people who work on oil rigs in West Texas.
- Tulsa King Sylvester Stallone will make his TV series debut in this modern-day crime drama.
- 1923 Heres another Yellowstone prequel, which will star Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren as ancestors of the current Dutton family.
In addition, the service is developing new series based on iconic films like Flashdance, Love Story, The Italian Job, and The Parallax View.
Paramount Plus On Pluto TV
While there isnt a free tier plan on Paramount Plus, there is an alternative . ViacomCBS also owns Pluto TV, the completely free live and on-demand streaming service. It offers lots of the same library of content found on Paramount Plus on its over 100 channels. In fact, Pluto TV launched a channel, Paramount Plus Picks. It will offer select content from the streaming service, including episodes of shows that are usually Paramount Plus exclusives.
Read more: Best Pluto TV channels
Read Also: How To Watch Regular TV On Lg Smart TV
How Does It Work
Paramount Plus works like other streaming services: Log in to the service via your PC, mobile phone, tablet, or another connected device. Select the show or movie you want to watch and start streaming. If you are signed up for the $9.99 a month plan, you can also select Live TV to stream from your local CBS affiliate channels.
Bundle With Showtime For A Special Price
You can also bundle Paramount Plus with ViacomCBSs pay cable network Showtime for a special price. Paramount Plus with ads plus Showtime costs $11.99 a month. The Ad-Free plan plus Showtime costs $13.99 a month. You can also get annual plans with Paramount Plus and Showtime for $109.99 a year and without ads for $139.99 a year.
Read more: Best Showtime shows
Read Also: How To Change TV Provider On Abc App
Andrew The Squid Montanez Programming Manager
Channels he programs: I primarily oversee the ones that contain fight content as well as a lot of the more male-centric content. Heres my current channel load: Fight, Flicks of Fury, Spike Pluto TV, Spike Outdoors, Impact Wrestling, Totally Turtles, Glory Kickboxing, Combate Americas, THC, and Tech.
What led him to the gig: I am an expert on the world of fighting because I have had over 40 MMA fights, was an owner of a successful fight promotion that was acquired, and served as a host and commentator for some major fight promotions, including Glory Kickboxing and the Professional Fighters League. I also have a YouTube channel called MMA Surge that has over 250K subscribers. I consider myself a bit of a fight library you can find me on the weekends flying to UFC, Bellator, and boxing fights all over the country.
“I’m an expert on the world of fighting because I’ve been in over 40 MMA fights.”
Andrew “The Squid” Montanez
Programming Manager
How he determines channel content: We look for the best stuff. I am a super fan of fighting, boxing, Kung-Fu movies, action movies, and stuff in that wheelhouse. So, if that content doesn’t grab me as a regular fan, I will usually pass on it. I tend to lean into how the content makes me feel and rely on my expert intuition.
There are some other determining factors like popularity, the cast, and overall production value. But, if I don’t think people are going to like it, I don’t think it needs to take up any of Pluto TV’s real estate.
Nikki Grenoble Channel Editor
What led her to the gig: As a big Mystery Science Theater 3000 fan, I knew about Pluto TV from the 24/7 channel we offer.
I thought the platform was serving a unique need, and that it was great that real people were responsible for specific genres. They were hiring, and now I program our Mystery Science Theater channel.
Aside from being a big fan and consumer of the content I work with, Id previously majored in anthropology while simultaneously interning at production companies. This role splits the difference.
A lot of what I do at Pluto TV is looking at trends and interpreting them to see what our audience is watching, plus researchand I love a research rabbit hole. Theres also an important creative component.
“Its obvious provides a valuable service for cord-cutters and people who like to drop-in and have the ‘cable’ experience.”
Nikki Grenoble
Channel Editor
You need to know the content and know whats worth highlighting. With a linear experience, you curate content in a way that keeps people on the channel.
Whats unique about Pluto TV: In a world of mostly-VOD, linear programming seemed like it was on its way out, but with our success and trends on other platforms, its obvious we provide a valuable service for cord-cutters and people who like to drop in and have the cable experience.
Read Also: How To Pair iPhone To Samsung TV
Upcoming Exclusive Kids And Family Shows
The company behind the Nickelodeon channel will have a ton of new content for Paramount Plus. Some of them have already debuted on the service. That includes a new CGI animated version of the hit kids Rugrats series, with the original voice cast. Also, the hit teen sitcom iCarly is back with many of its original cast, now all grown up. Its already been renewed for a second season. Heres a look at whats upcoming on the service.
- Dora the Explorer A new live-action version of this Nickelodeon animated show is in the works.
- Avatar New animated shows, short subjects, and features films based on Avatar: The Last Airbender and its spin-off The Legend of Korra are coming to Paramount Plus.
In addition, new shows based on Lassie, George of the Jungle, Danger Mouse, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, and Mr. Magoo are being developed for the service.
Drew Platt Channel Editor
Channels he programs: I program quite a few channels, but the top channels I program are 80s Rewind, Pluto TV Kids, Pluto TV Terror, Pluto TV Surf, and AwesomenessTV.
How he determines channel content: I look for top content first , but I also look for those hidden gems most people haven’t seen. Hidden gems lend themselves to good lead-ins.
I like selecting content that can easily set up an awesome marathon or great double feature, something that the public will like and movie geeks will love. For example, I put in a content request for the film The Friends of Eddie Coyle , which is a film I love and one you couldnt even get before 2009 when Criterion released it on Blu-Ray. We acquired the streaming rights to it and it was the first time it played on free-streaming TV. That was a big personal win.
“As a kid growing up in a small town in the South, I had to go out and find the cool stuff I wanted to watch, praying it would come on a local channel…hopefully, I can show people out there some cool stuff that they wouldnt have discovered unless they watch Pluto TV.”
Drew Platt
Channel Editor
Whats unique about Pluto TV: As a kid growing up in a small town in the South, I had to go out and find the cool stuff I wanted to watch, praying it would come on a local channel. I know with the internet its easier than ever to find whatever you want, but hopefully, I can show people out there some cool stuff that they wouldnt have discovered unless they watch Pluto TV.
You May Like: How To Watch Live TV On Firestick
Where Is It Available
The service has launched in the following countries:
- Argentina
- Venezuela
In Australia, it is available under the 10 All Access brand name.
Sometime in 2022, the service is scheduled to launch in other parts of Europe as part of Comcasts Sky platform. When that happens, Sky Cinema subscribers will get Paramount Plus at no additional cost. In December 2022, the service will launch in France, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, and the Caribbean. There are plans to launch Paramount Plus in Africa, India, Hong Kong, Taiwan and other parts of Southeast Asia.
Final Take: Yellowstone Delivers The Cowboy Goods
If you like heady family drama, lush big-sky scenery, pretty people, and prettier horses, Yellowstone just might be for you. The Dutton clan stirs up the Western glitz of old-school Dallas with the modern grit of Breaking Bad and Sons of Anarchy over a raging campfire, only hinting at a line between the good guys and the bad guys.
Others might find Yellowstones near-HBO-level violence and coarse language a bit much, however. Yellowstone pushes the limits of the TVMA parental advisory hard, casually dropping F-bombs like no other basic cable series before ita family-friendly cowboy show, this aint.
Either way, you can kill two birds with one stone by watching all four current seasons of Yellowstone with an Xfinity plan .
Read Also: How To Watch Fox Nation On TV
Pluto TV Internet Speed Requirements
Pluto TV doesn’t provide specific guidelines about internet speed for its service. In its help section, the company says, “Having a fast connection is certainly important, but having a ‘stable’ connection can be just as important, so that super fast WiFi connection drops out for a 1/2 second and that will cause playback issues.”
MORE: How Much Internet Speed Should You Really Pay For?
Is It Worth It
As usual, the answer to that is it depends. If you sign up for the $9.99 a month plan, you will be able to access lots of live sports events, including live streaming of NFL football games. If you are a Star Trek fan, the service will be your one-stop place to watch both classic, new and upcoming content from the sci-fi franchise.
There will also be lots of other library content to stream from Paramount Pictures, CBS, and the Viacom family of cable TV networks . If you are a fan of shows and movies from those sources, signing up for the service might be worth it. However, the new and exclusive content for Paramount Plus will take a year or two to debut, so if thats all that you want to watch, you may want to hold off and save your money. However, theres nothing stopping you from canceling Paramount Plus after giving it a shot.
Don’t Miss: How To Add Hbo Max To Lg Smart TV
Pluto TV Movies On Demand
Yes, Pluto has thousands of movies on-demand and airing live on themed Movies channels, ranging from genres to ’80s Rewind and Black Cinema.
Pluto TV movies made up of older titles that were moderate hits back in their day. Recent selections included Shaft, Addams Family Values, The Rainmaker, Airplane, Clue, Road to Perdition and First Wives Club.
Paramount Plus Other Faqs
No, Paramount Plus is not free with Amazon Prime. You have to subscribe to each service separately, though you can add the Paramount Plus channel in Prime Video for faster access.
Paramount Plus includes unlimited access to thousands of episodes and movies from CBS, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, and more. The Premium plan also offers access to your local CBS station.
Paramount Plus announces new titles on a monthly basis, but weve already seen shows like Halo land on the service in 2022. You can check out some of the best exclusive titles right here.
The service can be streamed on up to three devices at once.
Yes. Thanks to the generous allowance of three simultaneous streams, the service can be shared without worrying about interrupted streams.
A limited amount of content will be available in 4K on the service.
Currently, the service does not have a free plan.
The service has launched in Latin American countries and will be available in the Nordic countries in Europe on March 25. It will launch in Australia in mid-2021.
Although its not officially supported, many VPN services work with Paramount Plus. Learn more about the best VPN services.
You can download shows and movies to watch offline, but only on the iOS and Android apps.
Read Also: How To Hide TV Wires
Pluto TV Channels And Shows
Pluto TV’s channels are divided into sections such as Featured, Entertainment, Movies, Sports, Comedy, Kids, Latino and Tech + Geek.
There are versions of top cable networks like MTV but generally, Pluto TV channels aren’t the ones you’d find in a standard cable or satellite package.
The News channels are names that you know CNN, NBC News, CBS News, etc. but mostly, they play curated, pre-recorded clips instead of a live stream of the network.
Similarly, the Sports channels are ones you’ve heard of, like Fox Sports, NFL Channel, PGA Tour and Major League Soccer. However, you can’t really watch live sports on Pluto those channels play past games, highlights or analysis.
Pluto’s TV shows are mostly older sitcoms and reality shows that are generally found on other free streaming services, like Hell’s Kitchen, Roseanne and The First 48.
Recently, Pluto added a huge new addition: Pluto TV 007. This channel will stream nothing by James Bond movies, as Pluto says, “24 hours a day, 007 days a week.” Specifically, Pluto has 19 Bond movies starring Connery, Moore, Lazenby, Dalton and Brosnan, so don’t expect Daniel Craig’s run when you tune in. We’re waiting for the full list.
Pluto also added Pluto TV Pranks and British Comedy channels.
Jackie Maroney Channel Editor
Channels she programs: WHAT, Pluto TV Romance, Nosey, MTV The Hills, Pluto TV Travel, Food TV, FrontDoor, Pluto TV Her, Pluto TV Her Dramas, Pluto TV Weddings, People TV, BET Her, Pluto TV Tween. Just about anything that touches female interest!
What led her to the gig: I majored in film and television at Boston University, but I have always had a passion for entertainment and pop culture. As a child actor, I found myself at an early age being interested in more than just the shows that were expected of kids my age, which gave me an extensive knowledge of television and film libraries. I use this knowledge when reviewing content catalogues and selecting content. Im also a pop culture and reality TV junkie. In my spare time, I produce and host a podcast about The Bachelor, Bachelor Blab .
How she determines channel content: We use data reports and A/B testing to determine our top performing content and viewer trends. Its very interesting because different genres of content have different viewing patterns. For example, our audience prefers small, 3 to 4 hour marathons of reality TV shows with episodes in sequential order. But when it comes to movies, appointment viewing works better.
“As a child actor, I found myself at an early age being interested in more than just the shows that were expected of kids my age, which gave me an extensive knowledge of television and film libraries.”
Jackie Maroney
Channel Editor
Don’t Miss: Where To Buy TV Online