Paramount plans to merge Paramount+ and HBO Max, but few other changes planned for Warner Bros. Discovery
Paramount plans to merge Paramount+ and HBO Max, but few other changes planned for Warner Bros. Discovery
Paramount Skydance is still on the outside looking in with Warner Bros. Discovery. Despite a clear desire to acquire WBD, Paramount has thus far been stymied, having had multiple bids rejected so far. Paramount is thus far undaunted by the difficulties in acquiring WBD, and new details are emerging regarding its plans for the company if it ever does manage to effect a purchase.
Key Details:
- Streaming sandwich: The HBO Max and Paramount+ streaming services will be combined in a Paramount acquisition.
- Cable stays: There are no plans to sell off any of Paramount’s or WBD’s cable networks.
- Mostly intact: WBD’s studio creative teams would remain separate from Paramount’s in a deal.
Details for the evolution of WBD, should Paramount acquire it, were first reported by Bloomberg. The plan for Paramount is not to tear WBD down to the studs and start again, but rather to keep most of the company intact as is. There’s one major exception, though: Paramount CEO David Ellison plans to shut down HBO Max as a standalone streaming service, and merge it with Paramount+ should the merger go through.
Such a move would undoubtedly make things easier for customers, who would get to watch the content of both streaming services on a single app. However, any such move would almost certainly come with an increase in price for the resulting streaming service.
Outside of that admittedly major change, however, Paramount mostly intends to leave WBD as-is. That includes its cable channels; Bloomberg says that Paramount has no intention of selling off its own cable channels, or those owned by WBD. That echoes earlier reports, which indicated Paramount is planning a revival of its own cable channels at a time when many legacy media companies are trying to get rid of theirs.
The Paramount and WBD movie studios would remain mostly separate as well, and would each maintain their own creative teams. CNN may end up sharing resources with CBS News in any deal, however.
President Trump has weighed in on the potential merger, giving Paramount his blessing based on the possible assumption that a deal would mean favorable coverage for his administration. But the Writers Guild of America has pledged to do all it can to block a deal between Paramount and WBD.
Paramount isn’t the only company in the hunt for WBD, but it is seen by outsiders as the favorite to acquire it as of now. Its strategies for WBD’s assets are becoming clearer as the bidding process rolls along.
HBO Max
HBO Max is a subscription video streaming service that gives access to the full HBO library and exclusive Max Originals. There are hubs for content from TLC, HGTV, Food Network, Discovery, TCM, Cartoon Network, Travel Channel, ID, and more. Watch hit series like “The Last of Us,” “House of the Dragon,” “Succession,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” and more. Within HBO Max, B/R Sports allows users to watch live NBA, MLB, NHL, March Madness, and NASCAR events.