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Paramount Skydance has said it plans to combine Paramount+ and HBO Max if its acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery closes. But the deal is delayed by antitrust litigation, and no combined-service name, launch date, app design, or price has been announced. As of August 18, 2026, subscribers should not expect one app to arrive soon.
Status as of August 18, 2026: The proposed Paramount Skydance–Warner Bros. Discovery acquisition has not closed. A federal judge paused the transaction amid a lawsuit brought by 12 states. The companies reportedly agreed to delay closing until the litigation is resolved or June 1, 2027, subject to their agreement. That date is not a streaming-service launch date. Axios reported the court pause; the Associated Press reported the delayed closing date.
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What is actually planned?
This is a proposed corporate acquisition first, with streaming integration intended later. Paramount Skydance agreed to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery on February 27, 2026. Under the agreement, WBD would become a wholly owned subsidiary of Paramount Skydance. Paramount has said it plans to combine Paramount+ and HBO Max after the acquisition closes; the transaction itself does not define how or when that would happen.
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The broader portfolio would put WBD brands such as HBO, Warner Bros., DC, Discovery, CNN, Food Network, and TLC alongside Paramount, CBS, Showtime, Nickelodeon, MTV, Comedy Central, and BET. The companies’ announcement also references Paramount+, HBO Max, and Pluto as part of a broader direct-to-consumer strategy. That does not confirm that free, ad-supported Pluto TV will be folded into the same paid app.
#1 Best Overall
- Watch over 40,000 full episodes on demand from hit series like Survivor, NCIS, Big Brother and more
- Get hooked on subscriber-only originals
- Make every night a movie night with blockbuster hits and fan-favorite films
- To Redeem: Go to paramountplus.com/redeem
- No returns and no refunds on gift cards.
- Paramount’s transaction announcement describes the proposed acquisition and broader streaming strategy.
- The SEC merger filing sets out the proposed legal structure.
- Axios reported Paramount’s stated plan to combine the two services after closing.
Where does the deal stand?
Regulatory progress is not the same as a completed acquisition. The companies’ boards approved the transaction, and regulators have taken steps, but the separate state lawsuit remains a major obstacle.
| Milestone | What it means |
|---|---|
| February 27, 2026: agreement announced | Paramount Skydance agreed to acquire WBD; the acquisition remained subject to closing conditions. |
| June 2026: DOJ investigation closed | The U.S. Department of Justice said its investigation did not find the merger likely to harm competition or consumers, including in streaming. This did not resolve the separate state case. DOJ statement. |
| July 2026: federal court pause | A judge paused the transaction after 12 states challenged it on antitrust grounds. Axios report. |
| Closing delayed | The companies reportedly agreed to wait for resolution of the state litigation or June 1, 2027, subject to the agreement. Associated Press report. |
| August 2026: UK clearance | The UK clearance is one regulatory milestone, not completion of the global transaction. Axios report. |
The original expected closing window cannot be treated as a current target for a consumer launch. The litigation, other closing conditions, and any further regulatory or contractual steps can affect whether and when the acquisition closes.
Rank #2
- Watch over 40,000 full episodes on demand from hit series like Survivor, NCIS, Big Brother and more
- Get hooked on subscriber-only originals
- Make every night a movie night with blockbuster hits and fan-favorite films
- To Redeem: Go to paramountplus.com/redeem
- No returns and no refunds on gift cards.
When will there be one app, and what is not known?
No date has been announced for a combined service. Even if the acquisition closes, common ownership would not automatically make the two apps one. Paramount could operate them separately while it works through product, technology, and customer-service decisions.
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| Question | What has been announced |
|---|---|
| Combined-service name | Not announced. |
| Launch date | Not announced; the corporate closing date is not a launch date. |
| Price or subscription tiers | Not announced. |
| App design or which service’s app will remain | Not announced. |
| Account, billing, profile, watch-history, or download migration | No transfer process or terms have been announced. |
| Whether Pluto TV will join a paid app | Not announced. |
| Exact catalog by country and subscription tier | Not announced; existing rights and market differences would still matter. |
A single service would require practical decisions about app and backend integration, billing, account migration, profiles and parental controls, downloads, advertising, customer support, and live programming. These are implementation issues, not a published timetable. Existing content licenses, geographic rights, sports contracts, and any applicable restrictions could also limit what appears where and when.
Rank #3
- Watch over 40,000 full episodes on demand from hit series like Survivor, NCIS, Big Brother and more
- Get hooked on subscriber-only originals
- Make every night a movie night with blockbuster hits and fan-favorite films
- To Redeem: Go to paramountplus.com/redeem
- No returns and no refunds on gift cards.
What might the catalog include?
If the deal closes and the company combines the services, the potential library could span both portfolios. This is a description of the brands and programming associated with the companies, not a guaranteed launch-day lineup.
Premium television, films, and franchises
- HBO programming, Warner Bros. films and television, DC, and Harry Potter-related programming from WBD.
- Paramount Pictures films, Showtime, and Paramount+ originals from Paramount.
Documentaries, reality, news, and family programming
- Discovery, CNN, Food Network, TLC, and other WBD properties.
- Nickelodeon, MTV, Comedy Central, BET, CBS programming, and related Paramount brands.
Sports and live television
The portfolios include sports and live-TV assets, but shared ownership would not guarantee that every event is available in one app, in every country, or on every tier. Paramount+ currently advertises NFL on CBS, UFC, UEFA Champions League, and live CBS access in eligible markets. Sports availability can depend on plan, local rights, and blackout rules. WBD sports availability is likewise subject to rights and distribution restrictions.
Rank #4
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- Give the gift of entertainment so your friends and family can stream unlimited films and Netflix original series. Whether your loved one already has a Netflix account or they will be creating a new account, they can use a Netflix gift card toward their membership.
- No credit card is required to redeem a gift code.
- Codes are applied to your account as a gift balance. Gift codes can be added to any plan, regardless of the amount.
- Redemption: Online
Streaming catalogs are shaped by country, contract, platform, release window, and subscription tier. Corporate ownership alone does not end third-party licensing agreements or guarantee that every title moves to a future service.
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There is no announced price for a combined service. The following are U.S. standalone prices shown on the cited official pages; prices may change, vary by location, and exclude tax. They are context for choosing a service today, not a forecast of future bundle pricing.
Best Value
- Gift Cards are shipped active and ready for use.
- This card is non-reloadable. No cash or ATM access. Funds do not expire. If available funds remain on your card after the valid thru date has passed, please call customer service for a replacement card. A one-time purchase fee applies at the time of checkout. No fees after purchase.
- To access your card information safely, type the complete website address shown on your Gift Card (MyGift.GiftCardMall.com) directly into your browser's address bar. Don't use search engines or shortened versions of the website address, as these may lead you to fake or fraudulent sites. Do not provide any Gift Card details (example: Card Number) to someone you do not know or trust. If you believe you've reached an illegitimate website, contact cardholder service at 1-888-524-1283. Be cautious of phishing sites, there are a variety of scams in which fraudsters try to trick others into paying with gift cards.
- To report your Lost or Stolen Physical Visa Card, call Customer Service 24/7 at 1 (888) 524-1283 to cancel your Gift Card as soon as you can. You will be asked to provide the Gift Card number and other identifying information.
- Use your Visa Gift Card in the U.S. everywhere Visa debit cards are accepted, including online.
| Service and plan | Price shown | Source and qualification |
|---|---|---|
| HBO Max Basic with Ads | $9.99 per month | Official HBO Max help page; U.S. plan information. Plan details. |
| HBO Max Standard | $16.99 per month | Official HBO Max help page; U.S. plan information. Plan details. |
| HBO Max Premium | $20.99 per month | Official HBO Max help page; U.S. plan information. Plan details. |
| Paramount+ Essential | $8.99 per month | Official U.S. signup page. Plan information. |
| Paramount+ Premium | $13.99 per month | Official U.S. signup page. Plan information. |
| Paramount+ Premium annual | $139.99 per year, about $11.67 per month when paid annually | Annual price shown on the official signup page; the monthly equivalent is a calculation, not a monthly billing price. Signup details. |
Paramount+ describes Premium as including Showtime content, downloads, selected 4K/HDR titles, and live CBS access; features and availability are subject to market and plan. Its official plans page also lists entertainment and sports offerings. Pluto TV is a separate free, ad-supported service, not a confirmed component of a future paid bundle; see Pluto TV.
No announced terms establish whether a combined option would undercut the cost of keeping both services, charge more than either one, or preserve multiple tiers. Promotional offers are temporary and should not be confused with standard prices.
Should you cancel or keep either subscription?
Make the decision based on what you watch now, rather than paying for both in anticipation of a future app that has no announced launch or migration plan.
- Keep both if your household regularly uses each library or relies on programming available only through one service, including particular sports or live-TV access.
- Pause or cancel one if it is used only occasionally. There is no announced advantage to maintaining both subscriptions now to secure access to a later combined product.
- Check the billing route first. Apple, Roku, Amazon, a mobile carrier, cable or broadband provider, and other distributors may have their own cancellation and billing rules. Check for an existing bundle before buying a direct subscription.
- Review annual-plan terms. Check the renewal date, cancellation effect, and any refund rules before ending an annual subscription. Downloaded titles may stop working when access ends.
- Wait for official migration instructions before changing account details; no transfer process has been announced.
Be wary of emails or texts demanding that you reconfirm payment details because of the merger. Use the service’s official app or website to manage an account, and do not follow an unexpected link to enter credentials or card information. If you find two charges, check whether you have overlapping direct and third-party subscriptions.
What subscribers outside the United States should know
The prices above are U.S. figures, not global rates. App names, service availability, catalogs, live channels, sports rights, and subscription tiers can differ by country. Third-party billing and bundled access can also have separate terms. A future shared corporate owner would not by itself make the services, libraries, or sports coverage identical worldwide.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
