Your streaming lineup is about to change when Paramount+ and HBO Max combine

Published Sep 30, 2026, 6:36 PM EDT After graduating from Marist University with a degree in communications and journalism, Dan Girolamo has over 10 years of experience writing about entertainment and sports. Dan's work can be seen in various publications, including Digital Trends, SportsCasting, and Tom's Guide. Throughout his career, Dan has interviewed several high-profile filmmakers and creatives, including Brendan Fraser, Jamie Lee Curtis, Caitriona Balfe, Frank Grillo, Miranda Cosgrove, Jai Courtney, Chris Columbus and James Cameron. Dan joins How-To Geek as a Senior Editor. When he's not writing about entertainment, Dan is either watching a movie or praying for the New York Knicks to win a championship. The merger between Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery is one step closer to becoming a reality. On Wednesday, a federal judge approved the settlement between Paramount and the group of Democratic state attorneys general who sued to block the merger with Warner Bros. Discovery. Per Deadline, the judge's approval was viewed as the final hurdle before the deal could close. After last week's settlement, Paramount CEO David Ellison said it would take about two weeks to close the merger, with a tentative date set for Oct. 6. The entire streaming ecosystem is about to change dramatically, especially with Paramount+ and HBO Max. How will the deal affect movies and television? Two of the largest Hollywood studios are combining forces to create a single media giant. Despite lawsuits, backlash, and public pressure, Paramount's proposed merger with Warner Bros. Discovery is going to happen. Ellison now has control of Warner Bros.' historic media library, consisting of iconic franchises and famous intellectual property. First and foremost, Paramount now has the Warner Bros. movie studio and everything that comes with it. That includes DC, Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings, the MonsterVerse, and more. Paramount and Warner Bros. have also pledged to release at least 30 movies in theaters per year. The merger also affects television, as several noteworthy cable channels—including CNN and the Food Network—will be under the Paramount umbrella. Subscription with ads Yes, $8/month Simultaneous streams 3 Paramount+ and HBO Max are about to change How does this affect streaming? Credit: Lucas Gouveia/How-To Geek With all due respect to the cable channels, the more pressing issue is how this merger will change Paramount+ and HBO Max The plan is to combine Paramount+ and HBO Max into one streaming service. This will help boost the company's subscriber numbers, which should exceed 240 million by 2030, according to Morgan Stanley analysts (via Variety). HBO is best known for its prestige programming, including shows that either win awards or have a lasting cultural legacy. Examples include The Sopranos, The Wire, Succession, and True Detective. HBO Max might be under Paramount's control, but the idea is to allow HBO to "operate with independence" to preserve its prestigious brand. We'll see how long that lasts. Paramount now has access to Game of Thrones, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, and House of the Dragon. Plus, the highly anticipated Harry Potter TV show will be under the control of a merged company, which still doesn't have an official name. Credit: Emerson Miller/Paramount+ As for Paramount+, it still retains Taylor Sheridan's empire of shows, including the Yellowstone spin-offs, Mayor of Kingstown, Landman, and more. As for who will run the company, all signs point toward HBO's Casey Bloys overseeing the content at the new streaming company. The most important question: How much will it cost? Ellison hasn't announced the cost of the combined Paramount+ and HBO Max service. However, Paramount is expected to have roughly $77 billion in debt. A price hike is not guaranteed, but I'm expecting an increase in pricing once the services are fully integrated. Source: Deadline Subscription with ads Yes, $10.99/month Simultaneous streams 2 or 4