Paramount+ and HBO Max to Merge into a Single Platform
David Ellison — head of Paramount Skydome — said the two streaming services would be combined if regulators approve the $110 billion Warner Bros. Discovery acquisition. Approval would mean Paramount+ and HBO Max are folded into one offering; the company, Ellison added, isn’t planning to drop the HBO name.
He didn’t outline the look or UX of the merged service. Instead he insisted HBO would continue to "operate independently." Practically speaking, that probably means keeping the linear TV side intact while consolidating streaming under a single admin (i.e., common back-end and subscription management).
An antitrust decision is expected in the coming months. The deal papers also contain a penalty clause: should approval be delayed, Paramount has agreed to compensate Warner Bros. Discovery.