{
  "id": 12722926,
  "title": "What will happen to Paramount+ and HBO Max under the new Skydance?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/what-will-happen-to-paramount-and-hbo-max-under-the-new-skydance",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-07T21:31:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Fast Company",
    "slug": "fast-company",
    "url": "https://www.fastcompany.com/91619969/hbo-max-paramount-plus-what-happens-streaming-skydance-merger"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Skydance, the new entity formed after the merger of Paramount and Warner Bros., remains tight-lipped about the future of its flagship streaming services, Paramount+ and HBO Max. In a press release, the company promised \"improvements in its streaming products\" and hinted at a unified service \"over time,\" but the timeline for this unification has yet to be disclosed. Pricing for the consolidation hasn't been shared either.\n\nCurrently, Paramount+ subscribers pay $8.99 per month, while HBO Max users face a starting cost of $10.99 monthly. Regarding bundles, existing packages like Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max have traditionally combined brands to offer cost-efficient access to diverse content. However, HBO Max stated that \"there are no plans for price or bundle changes 'for now,'\" but left open the possibility of new bundle options in the future. Skydance did not provide further clarification on future bundle and pricing strategies when asked for comment.\n\nThe merger was born out of Skydance Media's founding by David Ellison in 2006, which later formed a five-year co-financing and distribution deal with Paramount in 2009. In August 2025, Skydance acquired Paramount for $8 billion. The same month saw Skydance secure a $110 billion deal to purchase Warner Bros., outpacing a competing bid from Netflix. Following the $110 billion merger, Skydance delisted from Nasdaq and now trades on the NYSE, with its shares closing down 6.72% on Wednesday, indicating some investor concern about the company's ability to generate value post-merger.",
  "summary": "The deal merging Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. closed on Tuesday, bringing with it new questions about the future of the companies’ flagship streaming services: Paramount+ and HBO Max. What will that mean for streaming consumers? So far, the new company hasn’t said much. Unification “over time” Skydance announced that consumers can expect improvements in its streaming products, as well as a…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Maverick",
        "title": "Paramount wraps up mega Warner Bros merger to create Hollywood powerhouse Skydance",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/paramount-wraps-up-mega-warner-bros-merger-to-create-hollywood",
        "published": "2026-10-07T03:12:18.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Business Recorder",
        "title": "Paramount wraps up mega Warner Bros merger to create Hollywood powerhouse Skydance",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/paramount-wraps-up-mega-warner-bros-merger-to-create-hollywood-12555095",
        "published": "2026-10-07T05:10:49.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "France 24",
        "title": "Paramount wraps up mega Warner Bros merger to create Hollywood powerhouse Skydance",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/paramount-wraps-up-mega-warner-bros-merger-to-create-hollywood-12604764",
        "published": "2026-10-07T10:26:27.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}