Katarzyna Petru
The streaming market may soon undergo one of the biggest transformations in recent years. If the acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery by Paramount Skydance is approved unconditionally by regulators, a merger of the HBO Max and Paramount+ services will occur. This is a move that could realistically change the balance of power in the fight against Netflix, Disney+, and Prime Video.
111 billion dollars and the end of the race with Netflix
Paramount will pay around 111 billion dollars for Warner Bros Discovery and an additional 2.8 billion dollars for Netflix to withdraw from the previous agreement. After Netflix's unexpected withdrawal from the auction, the path to finalizing the deal became easier, although it still requires the approval of regulators. David Ellison, CEO of Paramount Skydance, confirmed that the plan involves merging both streaming platforms. According to him, the new service would have over 200 million direct-to-consumer subscribers, which would allow for more effective competition with market leaders.
One platform, huge portfolio
The merger would mean bringing together brands such as:
“Game of Thrones” and “The Sopranos” from HBO
Warner Bros. franchises, including Harry Potter, Batman, and Dune
Paramount brands, such as Mission: Impossible, Star Trek, and Transformers
It’s a massive library of movies and series that could theoretically create one of the strongest content offerings on the market.
In Europe, the situation is complicated by the fact that Paramount+ operates within SkyShowtime, which may prolong the integration process. The completion of the acquisition is not expected before the third quarter of 2026.
HBO will remain HBO
Regardless of what the new platform will be called, Paramount declares that the HBO brand will remain separate. Ellison emphasized that HBO is a strong and recognizable brand that will continue to operate as a distinct premium brand. HBO head Casey Bloys, whose contract runs until 2027, did not comment on future plans.
The merger of HBO Max and Paramount+ could create one of the biggest players in streaming, with a powerful catalog of movies and series. The key question is whether regulators will approve the deal without reservations and what the new, joint platform will look like. One thing is certain, the VOD market in 2026 could look completely different than it does today.
Source: Paramount, flatpanelshd
