What Is Pluto TV?
Pluto TV combines an assortment of live streaming channels (some of which are in-house and others are third-party) and on-demand movies and TV shows from its extensive library. Pluto TV plays occasional ads to pay for these shows and movies. The ads are usually at the beginning of the show or movie and might be inserted during the content.
Who Owns Pluto TV?
Pluto TV was started in 2013 and, as of March 2019, is owned by Viacom. In addition to tapping into Viacom’s library, Pluto TV offers content from MGM, Columbia TriStar, DHX Media, Nelvana, Fremantle, Monstercat, King Features Syndicate, and more.
Where You Can Find Pluto TV
Pluto TV is available for:
Getting Started With Pluto TV
If your TV or media streaming device is on Pluto TV’s compatibility list, check if the Pluto TV app is pre-installed. If not, find it on your device’s app store. Then, download and install it according to the device’s instructions. These are some examples of how to add apps to several types of devices:
How Pluto TV Works
To watch anything on Pluto TV, launch the app (no sign-in is required), find a live channel or on-demand movie or TV show, and select it to view.
Watch Live Channels
The live channels are linear. This means these channels run in real time. If you want to watch the entire show, look at the listings ahead of time so you can find out when a show starts, just as you would with antenna or cable TV.
Watch On-Demand Movies and TV Shows
If you are looking for an on-demand movie or TV show, go to the Free Movies & TV Shows category and select the title you want to watch. The movie or TV show starts at the beginning. If you don’t like your selection, stop it and choose something else.
The Pluto TV Activation Option
Pluto TV offers an option that provides some added flexibility to complement your viewing experience, referred to as Activation. Here are the steps: After entering the provided Use Code, the activation provides access to two additional features:
You can use the Pluto TV app on your smartphone to navigate Pluto TV on your device.You can edit the Pluto TV channel line-up and hide channels you don’t watch on the home page channel list.
The Pluto TV Mobile App
To further support its streaming service, Pluto offers a smartphone app. To use the Pluto TV features on your smartphone, download and install the mobile app and follow the onscreen prompts. Once installed, you can view live TV and on-demand movies and shows on your mobile device. In addition, a third feature labeled My Pluto allows you to:
Activate Pluto on multiple devices.Edit your channel list.Use the app as a Pluto TV remote control on activated devices.Check and edit your Pluto TV settings, such as changing your password and contacting support.
The Channels Pluto TV Offers
Pluto TV offers about 200 live TV channels (news ones are added periodically). Although the main viewing categories are Live TV and Free Movies & TV Shows, subcategories make it easier to navigate. In the Live TV category, the channels are grouped in:
Movies News Sports Comedy Geek and Gaming Entertainment Life+Style Curiosity Music and Radio: A selection of free online music and radio stations, mostly in partnership with Dash Radio.
Check out an official list of Pluto TV channels. In the On-Demand TV Shows & Movies category, some options are (these are similar to the categories you might find on Netflix):
Most Popular MoviesTop TV SeriesNew Movies This MonthRecently Added SeriesLast Chance to WatchGenres: Action, Comedy, Drama, Thrillers, Sci-Fi, and more.
There is also a Trending category on the web browser version, which is like the video stories found on YouTube.
The Bottom Line
Cord-cutting opens a wide world of content viewing options on your TV. Many people gravitate toward paid streaming services, such as Netflix, Hulu, and Vudu. However, if you want an option that provides a large selection of movies and TV shows, with some live TV channels thrown-in, and don’t mind some occasional ads, Pluto TV may be the option for you. After all, it doesn’t cost anything to check it out.
