ALEX BROWN
HBO Max and Paramount+ will be sold together as a single bundle starting in early 2027, Skydance confirmed in its third-quarter letter to shareholders on November 9. CEO David Ellison called the bundle “our first step towards unifying the two services” on the company’s earnings call, according to Deadline. Skydance, the company formed after Paramount Skydance acquired Warner Bros. Discovery, now owns both streamers. Price, bundle name and launch markets have not been announced.
When does the HBO Max and Paramount+ bundle launch?
Skydance has only said “early 2027.” It hasn’t given a specific date or said which countries will get the bundle first. The company says more details will come in the coming months.
What will the bundle include?
On the earnings call, Ellison said the bundle will span entertainment, news and sports, naming franchises like Harry Potter, The Pitt, Mayor of Kingstown and Landman. In practice, subscribers should get the full HBO Max library (HBO originals, Warner Bros. films, DC) and Paramount+ (CBS shows, Paramount films, Star Trek, Taylor Sheridan’s dramas) under one payment.
How much will it cost?
Unknown. Skydance hasn’t said whether there will be ad-supported and ad-free tiers, though both services offer each option today. Ellison said the company would “phase in new plans for pricing” during the bundle phase, which Deadline read as a sign more pricing changes are coming. Subscribers who already pay for both services separately should expect a discount, as with other bundles, but that isn’t confirmed.
Will HBO Max and Paramount+ merge into one app?
Eventually, yes. Skydance has repeatedly said the two will become one service. The bundle is the first phase; for now, each app will still be sold on its own. There’s no word yet on what the combined service will be called or when it will launch.
What happens to the Disney+, Hulu and HBO Max bundle?
HBO Max is currently part of a three-way bundle with Disney+ and Hulu. Skydance hasn’t said what will happen to it, though some outlets expect it could be phased out as Skydance focuses on its own package. Nothing has been announced, so existing subscribers don’t need to do anything yet.
Why it matters
Streaming is consolidating fast. Owning both HBO Max and Paramount+ gives Skydance one of the deepest libraries in the business, but it also carries heavy debt from the acquisition. A bundle is the quickest way to cut churn and raise revenue per subscriber. The merger is already rippling through other parts of the company, including Skydance’s games division, where Marvel 1943 staff were reassured this week amid layoffs. Elsewhere in streaming, Netflix is reportedly eyeing the historic Radford studio lot.
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Sources: Deadline, 9to5Mac, Men’s Journal