Paramount+ and HBO Max to become one service if merger goes through
HBO will remain HBO, if the deal goes through. But it's likely to sit within a Paramount+ app
With Netflix now out of the picture, Paramount Sundance is unopposed in its bid to take control of Warner Bros. Discovery. And, if the deal is approved by regulators in the USA, two streaming services are set to become one.
The current plan is to merge Warner’s HBO Max service with the existing Paramount+ streaming platform, according to the Paramount CEO. A CNBC Report reveals. David Ellison revealed plans for a combined service that would bring together 200 million subscribers under the same banner.
“We do plan to put the two services together, which gives a little over 200 million direct-to-consumer subscribers,” Ellison said in a conference call. “We think that really positions us to compete with the leaders in the space.”
The HBO branding won’t be going away though, according to Ellison, who says “HBO should stay HBO” on account of the history of top notch programming. While he wants the HBO brand to “operate with independence”, given Paramount is the purchasing company it’s likely to fall within a subsection of the Paramount+ app.
Ellison is also excited by the portfolio of live sports the merged companies will be able to offer. CBS Sports, which is also owned by Paramount, has the UEFA Champions League, NFL, UFC, PGA Tour Golf and loads more football from around the world, including the EFL Championship and Serie A in Italy.
HBO has TNT sports, which offers NHL hockey, Major League Baseball, and NCAA March Madness basketball.
Chris Smith
