2 min read
Edited ByIf you subscribe to HBO Max or Paramount+, you’ve likely seen the headlines about its upcoming merger. Paramount has made a deal to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery — and with it, HBO Max. Warner Bros. Discovery has been looking for a buyer for some time. The real headline is that Paramount plans to combine the two services into one app, and it's a bigger deal than it might sound.
It’ll be a big change for viewers, but one we won’t see play out for a long time — the deal hasn’t even closed yet. So don’t go rushing to cancel a subscription; the services will maintain their status quo for now. Here's what we know so far.
So what's actually happening?
Simply put, Paramount, now a Skydance company, is buying Warner Bros. Discovery. That sale includes HBO Max, the studio’s streaming service. Paramount CEO David Ellison confirmed in an investor call in March that HBO Max and Paramount+ will merge into one streaming platform.
Why is this happening?
Cord-cutting got too complicated, and users aren’t subscribing to every service out there. If you want to catch every culturally relevant show these days, you’re paying way more than a cable package typically costs.
To compete with major players like Netflix, which has 325 million subscribers, Ellison’s play is to combine subscribers of HBO Max and Paramount+ to simplify the market. Ellison cited a combined subscriber count of 200 million, though that includes subscribers counted twice for paying for both services.
The deal also grants Paramount access to other Warner Bros. Discovery brands like its movie studio and CNN.
What will the combined service look like?
There’s no official word on how the new combined service will take form, or (more importantly) what it’ll cost. Longtime HBO fans have seen the service go through a series of identity crises — from HBO to HBO Max to Max back to HBO Max. And it seems we have at least one more on the horizon. Are you taking guesses? Paramount Max? HBO Plus? Should we just call it cable again?
Regardless of what they name it, subscribers are getting a pretty exciting combined content catalog. Between “Game of Thrones” and “Yellowstone,” you can catch kingdoms at war from Westeros to Montana. The deal brings TNT Sports and CBS Sports together to offer comprehensive coverage. And movie nights are about to be epic between the Paramount franchises and Warner Bros. legacies.
Should I subscribe now, cancel, or wait?
For now, it’s best to still operate with the two companies as separate entities. It’ll be a while before the combined service is a reality.
It seems likely the new app will be more expensive than each standalone service, so if you’ve been considering signing up for Paramount+ or HBO Max, it might be a good idea to subscribe before your only option is a combined premium-priced service. If you aren’t sure what you should sign up for, check out our ranking of the best streaming services.
If you’re a Paramount hater and this news is upsetting, hold your horses, friend — HBO Max branding and content aren’t going anywhere. Ellison reassured investors that they plan to let HBO operate with independence and stay the HBO we all know and love.
When will this merger actually happen?
The deal is exciting news that could change a lot for subscribers, but none of it is set in stone yet. According to Ellison, the deal isn’t expected to close until the third quarter of this year, as regulatory sign-offs and shareholder votes still need to happen.
It’ll take time to integrate two entirely separate platforms, from both a technical and branding standpoint. Take Disney+ and Hulu, for example. Both services have been slowly merging since 2023 and still operate as separate apps. Point is, nothing’s changing today, and it’ll be a while before we know exactly how this deal impacts subscribers of both apps.
