The Hottest New Paramount+ Series? Our National Parks, Live-Streaming

Tony Maglio
·4 min read
1

Paramount+ may not have “Yellowstone,” but it could soon have Yellowstone. Maybe Earth Day 2025.

Struggling streamer Paramount+ and the National Park Foundation announced a new streaming partnership on Tuesday. You read that right. Under the pact, the Paramount Global SVOD (streaming video on-demand) service will livestream (and provide as video on-demand) sunrise-to-sunset content from seven U.S. national parks: Yosemite National Park, Blue Ridge Parkway, Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, New River Gorge National Park & Preserve, Everglades National Park, Death Valley National Park, and Zion National Park.

More from IndieWire

No mention of Yellowstone, our country’s first national park. How perfect.

Paramount famously fumbled the bag on Paramount Network’s smash-hit drama “Yellowstone,” which it licensed out to NBCUniversal’s Peacock for streaming. Paramount did not make the same mistake with creator Taylor Sheridan’s many spinoffs and similar series — none of them are “Yellowstone” though.

This hero basically (read: literally) screamed “WHAT ABOUT YELLOWSTONE?” at Paramount+ and National Park Foundation reps via email. We did not immediately receive a response — perhaps it was too aggressive.

Anyway, the programming, filmed by solar-powered cameras, begins on Earth Day, April 22. And Wildlife filmmaker Matt Aeberhard is a consulting producer on the project, so that’s cool. You could do a lot worse as a screensaver on your big-screen OLED.

So what’s in it for the parks? Money, of course.

“Through this partnership, Paramount+ will provide funding to help support the National Park Foundation’s mission to protect and preserve more than 420 of America’s national parks and motivate people everywhere to connect and fall in love with their beauty, history and culture through unprecedented virtual access,” the press announcement reads.

Campers at the parks reading this on their smartphones are currently giggling at “420.”

By the way, if you thought we were getting out of this announcement with a “Mountain of Entertainment” reference, you were dead wrong. Not that we can blame Paramount — that’s kind of the point.

“As we look at the iconic mountain in our logo – a constant reminder that adventure awaits – we couldn’t be more thrilled to partner with the National Park Foundation and share the parks’ stories with our wide streaming audience,” said Puja Vohra, EVP of consumer marketing for Paramount+ with Showtime. “Through majestic live streams and enthralling content, we aim to inspire our shared multigenerational audiences to connect with America’s national treasures and ensure their preservation for future generations to come.”

Watch a (natural) beauty of a teaser here:

“We are grateful for the commitment of Paramount+ to advance our work to ensure parks are forever and for everyone,” Dawn Rodney, chief external affairs officer for the National Park Foundation, said in a statement. “By showcasing and connecting everyone to the iconic and awe-inspiring landscapes of America’s most treasured places, this partnership will continue to cultivate and inspire a sense of wonder and appreciation for our national parks today and into the future.”

Save Bob Bakish a tent, hikers, because Paramount Global is currently on the sales block.

The most-likely scenario sees David Ellison buying Shari Redstone’s National Amusements, Inc., which controls about three-quarters of the Paramount Global voting shares, and then merging the company with his Skydance company. A special committee is reviewing the offer.

Here are some deets on the parks, as well as their live-stream dates:

Monday, April 22: Yosemite (CA)

Best known for El Capitan, giant Sequoias and the tallest waterfall in North America, Yosemite is home to many breathtaking views.

Tuesday, April 23: Blue Ridge Parkway (NC, VA)

A scenic byway spanning 469 miles through North Carolina and Virginia, the Blue Ridge Parkway offers stunning views of the Appalachian Highlands.

Wednesday, April 24: Bighorn Canyon (MT, WY)

The first designated area of its kind in the Missouri River Basin, Bighorn Canyon is home to forest, mountains, upland prairie, deep canyons, broad valleys, high desert, lakes and wetlands.

Thursday, April 25: New River Gorge (WV)

The rugged waters of this ancient river provide solace to all those who seek its steady presence amongst the woods of West Virginia.

Friday, April 26: Everglades (FL)

Just a one-hour drive from Miami, this park is home to one of the world’s most diverse ecosystems, both tropical and subtropical.

Saturday, April 27: Death Valley (CA)

At America’s lowest, hottest, and driest national park, adventurous visitors enjoy Death Valley for its many extremes and mysteries such as the sailing stones.

Sunday, April 28: Zion (UT)

The Virgin River cuts through sandstone, widening and reshaping the canyons that define Utah’s first designated national park.

Best of IndieWire

Sign up for Indiewire's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.