HBO Max & Paramount+ streaming platforms would merge if sale goes through
While the world is still months away from Paramount Skydance officially being cleared to buy Warner Bros. Discovery, an intriguing part of that potential future was revealed on Monday.
Paramount Skydance head David Ellison revealed during a conference call that both the Paramount+ and HBO Max streaming services would combine post-sale. No details about a potential name, cost or timeframe were revealed other than noting the HBO brand would remain intact and will likely remain as a sub-brand according to reporting from CNBC’s Alex Sherman.
The combined power of TNT Sports and CBS Sports was also mentioned on the call.
HBO Max has 131 million subscribers while Paramount+ has 79 million with a very light overlap according to Antenna data relayed by Sherman.
For wrestling fans, all of this potentially matters because of the AEW relationship and investment that WBD has in the company (less than 10% or it would need to be reported). It’s unclear if that investment divests if the sale goes through or if Paramount Skydance would retain the investment.
AEW currently simulcasts on both TBS/TNT and HBO Max with the streaming service also acting as a gateway for U.S. fans to buy AEW pay-per-views (along with Prime Video, YouTube and PPV.com). The current TV rights contract runs through 2027 with WBD holding an option to extend through 2028.
Paramount Skydance doesn’t have any other wrestling properties, but has a relationship to TKO through both their UFC and Zuffa Boxing deals.
TKO head Mark Shapiro had previously speculated about UFC events airing on TNT if a deal was to go through, mentioning both TNT and HBO’s association with sports at an event Monday. AEW Collision currently airs on Saturdays on TNT which would make things interesting if such a move was of interest to Paramount leadership.
Since 2011, Josh has been a contributing editor to Wrestling Observer/F4WOnline.com and also hosts the Punch-Out podcast. He has also written for Fight Magazine, Bloody Elbow, Bleacher Report, and other websites. He's a 2000 graduate of the University of Maine, worked in pro sports, and once was an indie ring announcer.