HBO Max & Paramount+ Will Combine Thanks To AI, Says David Ellison
Deadline • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Skydance chairman and CEO David Ellison anticipates HBO Max and Paramount+ will eventually merge into a single streaming service after a short-term period of operating as separate but bundled platforms.
- The company has already integrated the tech stacks of Paramount+, BET+, and Pluto TV, a process aided by advancements in AI technology, with full consolidation expected within a year.
- Ellison emphasized the speed of tech centralization following the Skydance acquisition of Paramount in August 2025 but did not provide details on pricing or consumer strategy for the unified service.
- This long-term integration plan contrasts with recent statements from HBO content head Casey Bloys, who suggested bundling would be the immediate focus due to the distinct subscriber bases of HBO Max and Paramount+.
- The challenges of merging streaming services are well-documented, with other companies like Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery having faced setbacks and reversals when attempting similar consolidations.
