Skydance to combine HBO Max and Paramount Plus after initial bundle

The merger between Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery officially closed on Tuesday, October 6, 2026. Fast Company reported that the deal brings new questions about the future of the flagship streaming services Paramount Plus and HBO Max. Following the completion of the transaction, Skydance chairman and chief executive officer David Ellison told reporters that the long-term plan is to merge the two platforms into one unified streaming application, according to reports from Deadline and The Hollywood Reporter. [1][3][4][7]

Before full integration takes place, Skydance will offer a consumer bundling option in the immediate future while the platforms continue to operate separately. The Hollywood Reporter and Deadline both reported David Ellison as stating that merging the tech stacks of both platforms will require time. However, David Ellison noted that advancing artificial intelligence tools could accelerate the integration timeline. Skydance has not yet disclosed specific bundle pricing or options. [3][4][7]

In addition to video streaming operations, GamesIndustry.biz reported that Paramount Games Studio and Warner Bros. Games will merge into a single business unit under Skydance, overseen by Tony Driscoll. That structural change follows the overall corporate acquisition, which GamesIndustry.biz valued at 111 billion dollars. Meanwhile, Business Insider reported that Skydance's product chief informed staff in a internal memo that the combined company intends to execute platform updates rapidly. [5][6]

The combined entity unites two major direct-to-consumer services. Paramount Plus offers live linear channels from CBS, MTV, and Nickelodeon alongside on-demand assets, reaching over 60 million global subscribers by early 2023. Skydance has not yet clarified its plans for other corporate streaming properties, with The Hollywood Reporter noting that executives made no mention of Discovery Plus or its companion cable networks during initial press briefings. [3][14]