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Hoping to challenge Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+ and others in the exploding SVOD market, Paramount+ is billed as 'home to some of the world’s most beloved franchises', including Star Trek and Mission: Impossible.

Content available at launch includes the prequel series Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, which will debut a new episode each Wednesday, drama series The First Lady, starring Viola Davis, and the long-awaited series HALO, based on the mega-popular videogame franchise.

The movie library, assembled from the Paramount vault, ranges from 48 Hrs to Zulu, and includes major franchises Scream, Paranormal Activity, Star Trek, Transformers, Friday 13th and Jackass.

The service will be the home for streaming debuts for future blockbuster Paramount movies, including Top Gun: Maverick. Currently, there's no sign of 4K or Dolby Atmos streams.

The Paramount+ interface is more Disney+ than Prime Video, making navigation and content finding a breeze. The home page has tabs for different areas – Originals and Exclusives, Showtime, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, nick.jr and Smithsonian Channel. Below this are rails highlighting new release series and movies.

Following a deal between Paramount and UK broadcaster Sky, the platform is available for free to Sky Cinema subscribers.

Says Zai Bennett, content managing director at Sky UK and Ireland: 'Paramount is synonymous with Hollywood – which is why adding Paramount+ to the Sky Cinema package is not only the perfect pairing, but it will offer great added value for our customers who will be able to access a vast catalogue of premium content at no extra cost.'

The Paramount+ app has been added to the rails on both Sky Q and Sky Glass, and shows are also being promoted on the main UI.

The app isn't being added to NOW, 'but as part of Sky Cinema’s continued relationship with Paramount, NOW Cinema members will be able to stream brand new Paramount blockbusters through Sky Cinema and enjoy a library of Paramount’s films on demand at no additional cost.'