Walmart+, the retail giant’s paid subscription membership service, is now offering access to Paramount’s Pluto TV. Interestingly, select Pluto TV programming will be available ad-free.
Starting this week, Walmart+ subscribers can use the member portal to create a free Pluto account, which will allow them to watch a lineup of curated content. According to Walmart+, members can watch up to six TV shows (one season each) ad-free.
Pluto leaning into ad-free content is interesting given its presence as a free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) service. With more than 100 live linear channels as well as thousands of on-demand movies and shows, Pluto touts 78.5 million monthly active users and has launched in 37 markets across the globe.
The shows are pre-selected by Walmart+ and the service will rotate content at the start of each month. At launch, Walmart+ subscribers have access to select seasons of “Matlock,” “The Andy Griffith Show,” “Gunsmoke,” “Everybody Hates Chris,” “CSI: Miami” and “Beverly Hills 90210,” as noted by The Streamable.
The offer is available to both paying Walmart+ subscribers as well as those on the free trial. Walmart+ costs either $12.95 per month or $98 annually, but the free trial lasts 30 days.
Pluto TV is only the latest Paramount-owned streamer to join Walmart+. Last summer, Walmart+ launched a bundle with Paramount+’s ad-supported plan, giving its members access to Paramount+Essential at no extra cost.
In addition to Pluto TV and Paramount+, Walmart+ offers SiriusXM radio content for six months free. Those are the only streamers on Walmart+ at this time, a Walmart+ rep confirmed to Fierce Video.
Walmart’s involvement in the media and streaming space also extends to advertising. The retailer has partnered with Roku to integrate shoppable TV features on Roku devices and it’s using Innovid tech to boost connected TV campaigns.
In other Pluto TV-related news, Paramount this week announced the FAST service will host the pre-show for this year’s Tony Awards. The main event will be broadcast on CBS and streamed on Paramount+.
As TVRev’s Alan Wolk pointed out in his weekly column, FASTs like Pluto TV, Tubi and Xumo “can create a flywheel” with their parent company’s subscription product, helping those companies promote their service and drive subscriptions.