Paramount+ and HBO Max to merge

[b4pjoe]

HBO Max and Paramount+ to Combine Into One Streaming Platform, Paramount Says HBO Brand Will 'Operate With Independence'

Paramount+ right now is at $13.99 for the ad-free with Showtime content and HBO MAX is now $22.99 for the 4K ad-free plan so together they are $36.98. By the time this goes through the approval process which I am sure will fly right through you would probably looking at $50 per month for the ad-free 4K plan combined.

 

[b4pjoe]

From the article:

"As we said, we do plan to put the two services together, which today gives us a little over 200 million direct to consumer subscribers," Paramount CEO David Ellison said during an investor call breaking down the details of the planned merger Monday. "We think that really positions us to compete with the leaders in the space. At Paramount, by the middle of this year, we'll have completed the consolidation of our three services under one unified stack, and you can see us taking a similar approach to this platform going forward. And we think the combined offering, and given the amount of content and what we can do from the tech side, really will put us in a position to be able to compete with the most scaled players in DTC.""

I assume the statement, "At Paramount, by the middle of this year, we'll have completed the consolidation of our three services under one unified stack" means Discovery+ also will be consolidated too.

 

[savarese04]

From the article:



I assume the statement, "At Paramount, by the middle of this year, we'll have completed the consolidation of our three services under one unified stack" means Discovery+ also will be consolidated too.

interestingly, I think he's actually talking about P+, Pluto, and BET+

Pluto TV is Getting a New App | Cord Cutters News

Paramount Global this week revealed ambitious plans to consolidate the technology behind all of its streaming apps, including Pluto TV and Paramount+. The initiative centers on integrating the codebases of Pluto TV and Paramount+ into a single, unified framework that will simplify ongoing...

cordcuttersnews.com

 

[b4pjoe]

Paramount, state AGs settle lawsuit aimed at WBD merger

 

[lakebum431]

Likely close next week...

 

[MikeD-C05]

Likely close next week...

Paramount has to beat the September 30th deadline or they start paying $7 million a day to Warner Brothers Discovery, if they don't complete the merger.

 

[lakebum431]

Paramount has to beat the September 30th deadline or they start paying $7 million a day to Warner Brothers Discovery, if they don't complete the merger.

I'm not sure they can get their funding in place by then, but I'm sure they will try. Might bleed into the next week.

 

[MikeD-C05]

I'm not sure they can get their funding in place by then, but I'm sure they will try. Might bleed into the next week.

Isn't the Writers Guild still in a lawsuit over the merger?

** Wow, they also settled with Paramount on Sept, 21, 2026. So I guess they can go full steam ahead now.

 

[ncted]

I guess they can go full steam ahead now.

Full steam ahead on raising prices for customers, and probably getting rid of ad-free streaming, based on latest trends.

 

[Bruce]

Full steam ahead on raising prices for customers, and probably getting rid of ad-free streaming, based on latest trends.

The moment that happens, I am gone, do not care how much I like a service ( Paramount+ is my favorite).

I do not mind paying the extra and I do for all the services I currently am subscribed to, cannot imagine them taking that option away, a price increase….yes, but commercial free should always be a option.

 

[ncted]

The moment that happens, I am gone, do not care how much I like a service ( Paramount+ is my favorite).

I do not mind paying the extra and I do for all the services I currently am subscribed to, cannot imagine them taking that option away, a price increase….yes, but commercial free should always be a option.

Well, Disney just changed their terms for ad-free to include pre-roll, so it seems like the slope is getting slippery.

 

[Bruce]

Well, Disney just changed their terms for ad-free to include pre-roll, so it seems like the slope is getting slippery.

Those I can handle (Paramount+ has them, promoting other shows/movies), it is the interruptions during content that I cannot stand.

 

[ncted]

Those I can handle (Paramount+ has them, promoting other shows/movies), it is the interruptions during content that I cannot stand.

If I can skip the pre-roll, like with Paramount+ or AppleTV, it is ok. It is the un-skippable ones that really annoy me. Peacock was testing this at one point. Also, YouTube has started inserting ads in my feed despite being a Premium customer. It seems like everyone is trying to figure out how to show ad-free customers ads, and that is what concerns me.

 

[meStevo]

I don't care if I can skip those or not, I can hit play and go grab a drink or use the restroom or whatever. Actual commercial breaks in content are what I'm happy to pay to not have and when those are forced I'll be consuming a lot less content.

 

[dishstaller]

It seems like everyone is trying to figure out how to show ad-free customers ads, and that is what concerns me.

These types of tactics used to be called bait and switch...now it's called normal business.

We get customers calling us from time to time complaining about all the ads OUR INTERNET makes them watch. Trying to explain to them that it is the companies who are doing this and that we only give them access TO those companies does no good.

 

[b4pjoe]

Well, Disney just changed their terms for ad-free to include pre-roll, so it seems like the slope is getting slippery.

Disney+ has always had the pre-roll content on it. The news recently about that was for a different country. The people in the USA did not get the change in their user agreements that has been reported.

 

[Jimbo]

These types of tactics used to be called bait and switch...now it's called normal business.

We get customers calling us from time to time complaining about all the ads OUR INTERNET makes them watch. Trying to explain to them that it is the companies who are doing this and that we only give them access TO those companies does no good.

Remind them, your the Provider, not the End user

 

[ncted]

Disney+ has always had the pre-roll content on it. The news recently about that was for a different country. The people in the USA did not get the change in their user agreements that has been reported.

I never see pre-roll content on Disney+ with ad-free, but it is good to know it doesn't apply to the US (yet).

 

[osu1991]

If I can skip the pre-roll, like with Paramount+ or AppleTV, it is ok. It is the un-skippable ones that really annoy me. Peacock was testing this at one point. Also, YouTube has started inserting ads in my feed despite being a Premium customer. It seems like everyone is trying to figure out how to show ad-free customers ads, and that is what concerns me.

i've not seen any ads in my Youtube Premium other than the creators sponsored content that they add and it usually has a bookmark that I can hit skip on and it jumps to the end of the creators ad.

 

[ncted]

i've not seen any ads in my Youtube Premium other than the creators sponsored content that they add and it usually has a bookmark that I can hit skip on and it jumps to the end of the creators ad.

I have been seeing ads specifically in my feed, usually for content/services from big media companies.