Paramount+ and HBO Max to Merge into Single Streaming Service

Paramount CEO announces plans to combine the two platforms under one unified service

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Paramount CEO David Ellison announced that the company plans to merge its Paramount+ streaming service with HBO Max, creating a single combined platform. The move comes as Paramount Skydance moves to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, which owns HBO Max. Ellison stated that the combined service would have over 200 million direct-to-consumer subscribers, positioning it to better compete with industry leaders.

Why it matters

The merger of Paramount+ and HBO Max represents a major consolidation in the streaming industry, as two of the largest standalone services come together under one umbrella. This reflects the ongoing challenges for smaller streaming platforms to compete with giants like Netflix and Disney+, driving further industry convergence.

The details

Ellison said Paramount plans to complete the consolidation of its three streaming services, including Showtime, into a single unified platform by the middle of 2026. He emphasized that HBO will continue to operate with a high degree of independence, with CEO Casey Bloys' contract running through 2027. The combined service's name, pricing, and content integration details were not disclosed.

  • Paramount plans to complete the consolidation of its streaming services by mid-2026.
  • HBO CEO Casey Bloys' contract runs through 2027.

The players

David Ellison

CEO of Paramount.

Casey Bloys

CEO of HBO, whose contract runs through 2027.

Paramount Skydance

The company that is acquiring Warner Bros. Discovery, which owns HBO Max.

Warner Bros. Discovery

The parent company of HBO Max, which is being acquired by Paramount Skydance.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“As we said, we do plan to put the two services together, which today gives us a little over 200 million direct-to-consumer subscribers. We think that really positions us to compete with the leaders in the space.”

— David Ellison, CEO of Paramount (Variety)

“Casey and his team do absolutely a remarkable job at HBO. And as we said, we do plan for that to be able to operate with independence, so that HBO can, candidly, do what it does incredibly well. Our viewpoint is HBO should stay HBO. They built a phenomenal brand. They are a leader in the space, and we just want them to continue doing more of it.”

— David Ellison, CEO of Paramount (Variety)

What’s next

The merger of Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery must still be approved by federal regulators before the Paramount+/HBO Max consolidation can move forward.

The takeaway

The planned merger of Paramount+ and HBO Max into a single streaming service reflects the ongoing consolidation in the industry as smaller platforms struggle to compete with industry giants. The combined service's large subscriber base and content library could help it better challenge the dominance of Netflix and Disney+.