Pluto TV: how to get Viacom streaming service as Star Trek Discovery season 4 confirmed - and is there an app?

It’s good news for Star Trek: Discovery fans as season four of the sci-fi series has officially announced its new home for broadcasting in the UK - Pluto TV.

Previously, it was streaming giant Netflix that distributed the series in the UK, however fans were left in shock when the season four launch on Netflix was axed following the announcement that the show would premiere exclusively on Paramount+, with no plans to air the new season in the UK until some time in 2022.

Following outcry from fans and even Star Trek: Discovery cast members like Anthony Rapp, who plays Lieutenant Commander Paul Stamets, a new arrangement has been made to roll out season four in the UK on Pluto TV.

What is Pluto TV?

Pluto TV is a streaming service from ViacomCBS which, in the UK, owns brands like Channel 5, Nickelodeon and MTV.

It’s the leading free TV streaming platform in the US, and in the UK it has more than 100 channels, including 13 live TV channels, and thousands of films and TV shows to watch on-demand.

It launched in the UK in October 2018, with other countries like Germany, Austria, and Switzerland also introducing the service shortly thereafter.

How do I watch Pluto TV in the UK?

Pluto TV is available to watch via NowTV and Roku devices in the UK, as well as on:

• Amazon Fire Stick
• Android
• Apple TV Plus
• Chromecast
• iPhone
• LG
• PlayStation
• Samsung TV Plus

The app is free to download onto your smart devices from the Apple App Store, Amazon App store and the Google Play store.

Pluto TV is entirely free to use and requires no subscriptions or sign-ups, however it is ad-supported which means you will have to watch adverts when streaming on the platform.

What’s on Pluto TV?

Pluto TV has been announced as the new home of Star Trek: Discovery in the UK, after it was previously announced that the series would not be released on Netflix in the UK.

Pluto TV said: “To all of the Star Trek: Discovery fans.

“We also love this series. Star Trek has always put its fans first and today we have great news.

“We will drop new episodes from season four at 9pm on the Pluto TV sci-fi channel each Friday, Saturday and Sunday, starting with the first two episodes this Friday, November 26.

“We too are super fans of Star Trek, and promise to give this franchise and its loyal fans all the love and visibility it deserves.”

Following the announcement, Star Trek fans have called for clarity as to whether these episodes will only be aired live, or if they will be available on demand after broadcast.

Replying to the tweet from Pluto TV, one person asked: “Big question that needs to be answered is will it be available on demand as not everyone is free at 9pm on a Friday to watch live.”

Another tweeted: “Whilst I welcome the news, it’s not a like for like replacement to Netflix. Will this be available on demand from that time and date or only available for live streaming?”

It appears that these episodes won’t be made available on demand, instead they will be made available for purchase on participating online platforms, like iTunes, Google Play and Amazon, the same day as their release on Pluto TV.

Pluto TV also has TV box sets like Baywatch, Hell’s Kitchen, Geordie Shore, Skins, 21 Jump Street and Wild at Heart, plus films including Let Me In, Love & Other Drugs, Just My Luck and Empire Records.

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