Paramount+ mistakenly promoted the Celtic vs. Hearts match, leading viewers to believe it was available for streaming. The game was actually shown exclusively on CBS Sports Network, causing frustration among fans who tuned in expecting to watch it on Paramount+.
Key points
Celtic vs. Hearts match promoted on Paramount+
Match was actually shown on CBS Sports Network
Celtic won the match 3-1
Viewers faced access issues on Paramount+
CBS Sports confirmed the promotion error
Mentioned in this story
CBS SportsParamount+
CelticHeartsScottish Premiership
Celtic vs. Heart Scottish
Credit: CBS Sports
One of the biggest frustrations of the modern sports-watching age is figuring out which network or streaming service has the rights to the event you want to watch, and then whether you need to pay for it and/or whether the service you currently use even has access to it.
Here’s a new wrinkle. What if you figure out which streamer was broadcasting the game and sign up to watch it only to find out they never intended to broadcast it to begin with?
That appears to have been the case for those who booted up Paramount+ on Saturday to watch the Scottish Premiership title deciding-match between Celtic and Hearts.
The match was one of the most anticipated in Scottish Premiership history as it had the chance to break the 41-year streak of either Celtic or Rangers winning the title. Hearts, which hasn’t hoisted the trophy in 65 years, went into the final day of the season atop the Premiership table. A win over Celtic would complete their epic season.
Alas, Celtic won, 3-1, thanks to two late goals. Celtic hoisted the championship trophy, while Hearts’ faithful had their hearts crushed.
Here in the States, the match was listed as available for streaming on Paramount+. However, when eager audiences tuned in at 7:30 a.m. ET, they were met with a message that read “fatal error: we’re having trouble playing this video… check your internet connection or router and try again.”
While that message would imply the issue was on the user side, reactions across social media suggested it was very much a Paramount+ problem.
SHOCKING performance from Paramount+ where no one can seem to access the Celtic vs. Hearts stream. Only the biggest game in Scottish Premier League history!
— James (@James\_Skrmetta) May 16, 2026
Anybody having issues watching the Celtic vs Hearts game on Paramount+???
— Sean H
�� (@Sheen0497)
My internet is fine . Anybody else having trouble for . Match is not playing and they have no live customer service
Q&A
Why couldn't viewers watch the Celtic vs. Hearts match on Paramount+?
Viewers couldn't watch the match on Paramount+ because it was mistakenly promoted as available there, while it was actually shown exclusively on CBS Sports Network.
What was the outcome of the Celtic vs. Hearts match?
Celtic won the match 3-1, securing the Scottish Premiership title.
What issues did Paramount+ users face during the match?
Paramount+ users faced a 'fatal error' message and were unable to access the stream, leading to widespread frustration on social media.
How did CBS Sports handle the promotion of the match?
CBS Sports mistakenly promoted the match as available on Paramount+ and later confirmed it would only be shown on CBS Sports Network.
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— Dave Johnson (@davejsports) May 16, 2026@paramountplus I pay money for Paramount just to watch soccer. Scottish Soccer has his most exciting title rate in 40 years. I tune in to watch the deciding game on Paramount and this is what I get. On not one not two but three different devices. Pathetic waste of money.
— Adirondack Contrarian (@AdkContrarian) May 16, 2026Adam Crafton at The Athletic dug into the matter and discovered that the match had been mistakenly promoted on the CBS Sports website as being available on Paramount+ and also mistakenly visible on the Paramount+ app in the first half. The listing for game access had been removed by the second half.
According to Crafton, CBS Sports decided before the game that it would be shown exclusively on CBS Sports Network. The game would not be accessible with a Paramount+ subscription, but rather through a cable or live TV provider login, such as YouTube TV or DirecTV.
Update:
CBS Sports confirms to @TheAthleticFC Celtic v Hearts mistakenly promoted on CBS Sports website as being available on Paramount+ and also mistakenly visible on Paramount+ app in first half.
Decided prior to game it would be shown exclusively on CBS Sports Network – not…
— Adam Crafton (@AdamCrafton\_) May 16, 2026
Clearly, no one got the memo that CBS Sports had made this decision, as the CBS Sports website promoted coverage of the game on both the CBS Sports Network channel and on Paramount+ beforehand, per Crafton.
Clips of the match shared on CBS Sports social channels also included Paramount+ branding.
CELTIC ARE THE SCOTTISH PREMIERSHIP CHAMPIONS
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Callum Osmand scores with the last kick of the game to seal their fifth title in a row
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Don’t miss all the post-match reaction from Celtic vs. Hearts LIVE on CBSSN right now
⚽ (@CBSSportsGolazo) May 16, 2026
Not only was the whole episode incredibly frustrating for those who wanted to watch the historic match, but it’s also a good reminder that even when you have access that you’ve paid for, corporations like Paramount Skydance, Disney, and NBCUniversal still have a lot of different ways to get you to pay even more when they know they’ve got you. Stay vigilant.
