Your HBO Max and Paramount+ apps are headed toward one service, but you still need them separately today. Skydance, formerly Paramount Skydance, completed its roughly $110 billion purchase of Warner Bros. Discovery on October 6, 2026, and David Ellison confirmed plans to bring the streaming services together. For now, you keep the separate apps and their existing plans, with a bundle expected before the full merger. Here’s what you need to know before reconsidering either subscription.
| Key fact | What you need to know |
|---|---|
| Deal completed | October 6, 2026 |
| New company and ticker | Skydance, trading on the NYSE as SKYD |
| Combined subscribers | More than 200 million gross subscriptions, including people counted twice |
| Single app release date | Not announced |
| Single app price | Not announced |
| What happens now | Separate services continue, with bundling expected sooner |
| Official confirmation | The closing announcement says the streaming products will eventually become one service |
What Ellison Said About Combining the Two Apps
You might read the merger headline and expect HBO shows to appear in Paramount+ immediately. Ellison’s comments at the October 6 press event on the Paramount lot described a longer process, with separate services continuing first. To understand what that means for your viewing, it helps to separate his commitments from the details still missing.
- One service is the eventual goal. Ellison said HBO Max and Paramount+ would be brought together, while acknowledging that the work would take time. You have confirmation of the plan, rather than a date to put on your calendar.
- Bundling should come earlier. He indicated that bundled access and other additions could arrive sooner than the finished service. That gives you something to watch for while the apps continue operating independently.
- The company put it in writing. Skydance’s closing announcement describes its streaming products becoming a single service eventually. The plan therefore appears in the company’s formal announcement as well as Ellison’s remarks.
- The idea predates the closing. On the March 2 investor call, Ellison described building a more competitive streaming platform across the following years. His October comments continued that earlier commitment.
- HBO’s identity still matters. During that March call, Ellison expressed support for preserving what makes HBO distinct. That does not tell you which name will appear on the future app.
You still have several unanswered questions before you can compare the proposed service with your current subscriptions.
- Final name. Neither announcement identified the future service’s branding.
- Price. Monthly charges and bundle terms remain undisclosed.
- Timing. No release date or automatic subscription transfer process has been announced.
Merger Timeline So Far
Let’s backtrack a little. The work behind this plan began with Skydance’s takeover of Paramount, before HBO Max entered the discussion. Here are the events that explain why your apps remain separate even though the ownership deal is complete.
| Date | What happened | Source |
|---|---|---|
| August 2025 | Skydance took control of Paramount, starting the earlier round of streaming technology changes. | NewscastStudio |
| March 2, 2026 | After Netflix left the bidding, Ellison discussed the roughly $110 billion WBD deal and plans for a single streaming platform. | TechCrunch via Yahoo Finance |
| Mid-2026 target | Paramount aimed to finish bringing Paramount+, BET+ and Pluto TV onto shared technology. October reporting described that work as completed. | The Playlist and NewscastStudio |
| October 6, 2026 | The WBD purchase closed following competition approvals across almost 70 jurisdictions. The renamed Skydance began NYSE trading as SKYD. | Skydance closing announcement |
| October 6, 2026 | Ellison reiterated the streaming merger plan at the Paramount lot, explaining that bundled access would precede the full integration. | ComingSoon, citing Deadline |
| Next stage, undated | You can expect the services to continue separately while the company prepares bundled offers and works toward one platform. Neither has a confirmed launch date. | NewscastStudio and Skydance closing announcement |
Your Subscription Today
What does all this mean for your next payment? The merger has not brought an announced change to your billing, and both services still sell their own subscriptions. Here’s how the US plans compare as of October 11, 2026.
Current HBO Max Plans and Prices
You can choose among three HBO Max tiers, with simultaneous streams, resolution and downloads separating them. Premium is the option if you want eligible titles in 4K, while the two cheaper plans offer Full HD.
| Plan | Monthly | Annual | Simultaneous streams | Video quality | Downloads |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic With Ads | $10.99 | $109.99 | 2 | Full HD | None listed |
| Standard | $18.49 | $184.99 | 2 | Full HD | 30 |
| Premium | $22.99 | $229.99 | 4 | Up to 4K where offered | 100 |
You still encounter advertising on certain live or scheduled programming with Standard and Premium. All three plans include MLB on TBS, and Premium supports Dolby Atmos where offered.
Current Paramount+ Plans and Prices
Your Paramount+ choice comes down to Essential or Premium on the Paramount+ plan page. Essential carries ads and includes selected Showtime series, while Premium gives you the full Showtime catalog and your live CBS station.
| Plan | Monthly | Annual | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essential | $8.99 | $89.99 | Ads, three simultaneous streams, selected Showtime series, NFL on CBS and UEFA Champions League |
| Premium | $13.99 | $139.99 | On-demand viewing without regular ads, full Showtime catalog, live CBS, downloads and selected titles in 4K |
Premium can still show promotional messages, and live television includes commercials. Essential’s NFL on CBS access does not give you the full live CBS channel included with Premium.
- Billing. No merger-related billing change has been announced, and details about moving existing subscriptions remain unknown.
- Bundle availability. Neither service listed an HBO Max and Paramount+ package as of October 11.
- Your combined cost. Choosing both entry-level ad plans currently totals $19.98 per month.
Will Paramount+ Subscribers Get HBO Content
Your Paramount+ subscription does not give you HBO content just because the services now share an owner. You still need HBO Max access to watch its programming, and no joint package was listed as of October 11. Until an offer arrives, here are your available routes.
- Keep a separate HBO Max subscription. If you already pay for both services, you continue using each app for its own catalog. The ownership deal has not announced shared access through your Paramount+ login.
- Consider the existing Disney package. You can currently bundle Disney+, Hulu and HBO Max for $21.99 per month with ads or $34.99 without ads. The offer is limited to US subscribers aged 18 or older and requires direct billing.
- Watch for a Paramount+ and HBO Max bundle. Ellison indicated that bundled access could arrive before the single service is ready. You cannot compare its value yet because pricing, eligibility and release details remain unannounced.
- Expect separate apps for now. Casey Bloys previously supported bundling because the services attract different subscriber groups. That helps explain why a package could come first, although you still have no confirmed instructions for moving an existing subscription.
Which Shows Come Together
You can see the appeal of having HBO dramas, Paramount franchises and sports under one roof. Still, shared ownership does not mean every title is immediately available through either subscription. The table below shows the programming and franchises on each side of the business, rather than a confirmed launch catalog for the future app.
| Paramount+ side | HBO Max side |
|---|---|
| Star Trek and Top Gun | Harry Potter and DC |
| SpongeBob SquarePants | Looney Tunes |
| Showtime programming | The White Lotus and Euphoria |
| CBS programming | Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon |
| Taylor Sheridan shows | A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms |
| NFL on CBS and UFC | MLB on TBS |
- Licensing still affects what you can watch. Skydance has committed to continuing sales of programming rights to other distributors. You therefore cannot assume every company-owned film or series will become exclusive to its streaming service, or that ownership alone determines which app carries it.
- Some familiar names need context. Yellowstone has ended, and Taylor Sheridan has a development agreement with NBCUniversal. Separately, The Playlist suggested that Adult Swim and Cartoon Network might face cuts or a sale. Treat those suggestions as speculation, not confirmed changes to your viewing options.
- New movies still get a theatrical release first. The company has committed to at least 30 theatrical films annually, each spending at least 45 days in theaters. That does not give you a confirmed streaming date for every release, even after the services come together.
How a Combined App Stacks Up Against Netflix and Disney+
More than 200 million subscriptions sounds like an instant Netflix rival, right? You need to look carefully at that total because someone paying for both HBO Max and Paramount+ gets counted twice. Here’s how the available figures compare, with their reporting dates kept separate.
| Service | Latest subscribers | Date | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skydance streaming services combined | More than 200 million gross subscriptions | October 6, 2026 | Skydance closing announcement |
| Netflix | 325 million | End of 2025 | Deadline via Yahoo Finance |
| Paramount+ | 81.6 million | Q2 2026 | Cord Cutters News |
| HBO Max and WBD streaming | More than 140 million | Q1 2026, with no Q2 total disclosed | Cord Cutters News |
| Disney+ and Hulu | No comparable subscriber figure provided in the cited reporting | 2026 coverage | NewscastStudio and ComingSoon |
- Overlap reduces the unique audience. In YipitData’s US purchase-receipt panel, 29% of HBO Max payers were also paying for Paramount+. Counting each dual subscriber once reduced the panel’s combined total by 11.6%. You should not apply that percentage to the entire subscriber base because it describes that panel only.
- Disney offers a useful app comparison. Reporting described plans to retire the separate Hulu app and make Disney+ the main destination, with Hulu programming accessible through its own tile. The services already share underlying technology, giving you an example of how separate catalogs can move into one app.
- Branding matters to your experience. The change from HBO Max to Max was later reversed after confusion among viewers and partners. That history helps explain why the eventual name matters, even though Skydance has not announced one. It also comes at a time of regulators taking on big media platforms.
Why Some Viewers Are Dropping Paramount+
If you’re reconsidering Paramount+, higher bills and fewer free offers give you concrete reasons to review its value. Those changes are documented, but you do not have a cancellation survey proving why individual viewers left. Here’s what changed, alongside the company’s subscriber results.
- Monthly prices went up. On January 15, 2026, both tiers rose by $1, taking Essential to $8.99 and Premium to $13.99. You now pay more whichever tier you choose.
- Annual plans became more expensive. Essential rose from $59.99 to $89.99 per year, while Premium moved from $119.99 to $139.99. The larger upfront payment may affect your renewal decision.
- Free access became harder to find. Paramount announced the retirement of free trials, while free-month promotional codes and offers aimed at winning back departing subscribers ended.
- Subscriber results tell another part of the story. Paramount+ gained 2 million subscribers in Q2 2026 and reported its best second-quarter retention to date. It expected subscriber numbers to remain roughly unchanged in Q3.
- Other services have raised prices too. Prices are climbing across tech, and Netflix, Peacock, Disney+, Max and YouTube Premium have all introduced price increases since 2024, so switching does not necessarily spare you future increases.
Smart Moves for Subscribers Right Now
You do not need to change your subscriptions just because the ownership deal is complete. The useful decisions still come down to what you watch and what you pay. Here’s where to start.
- Keep your next decision small. Avoid canceling a service or committing to a full year solely because of the merger news. You still have no confirmed price or release date for the future app.
- Compare annual savings with monthly flexibility. HBO Max’s annual plans save roughly $21 to $45 compared with 12 monthly payments. Choose that commitment only if you expect to keep watching throughout the year.
- Pay for the features you use. If you only want a few shows and can tolerate ads, consider the entry-level plans, even with ads creeping into paid services. You can also subscribe to different services in different months instead of keeping both continuously.
- Check both apps for a bundle announcement. Before buying, compare its eventual price with your existing subscriptions. Eligibility and account transfer details matter as much as the advertised monthly charge. Sales such as Prime Big Deal Days can also bring streaming discounts.
- Review the Disney package if you already use it. The Disney+, Hulu and HBO Max bundle costs $21.99 with ads or $34.99 without ads. Check who bills you, since this offer requires direct billing.
You can keep enjoying your current shows while waiting for an offer worth considering. Start by checking your next renewal date, then reassess when actual bundle terms arrive. This article provides general information, not financial advice.
FAQs
Yes, you can continue using HBO Max while it operates separately from Paramount+. The eventual single service has no announced launch date or final name.
No, your Paramount+ plan does not currently include HBO Max access. You still need a separate HBO Max subscription or a qualifying package that includes it.
You do not yet have a confirmed date for the single app. Ellison described a process that takes time, with bundled access expected before full integration.
You cannot calculate that cost yet because Skydance has not announced pricing. Your current subscription prices do not establish what the finished service or an earlier bundle will cost.
You might save through a future bundle, but no discount has been confirmed. As of October 11, neither site listed a joint offer, so you cannot compare savings yet.
You currently get the full Showtime catalog with Paramount+ Premium and selected Showtime series with Essential. Details about how Showtime will be packaged in the future service remain unannounced.
Your bill rose because Paramount increased both monthly tiers by $1 on January 15, with annual prices rising too. The company said the extra revenue would support programming, technology and improvements to the viewing experience.
