Paramount named Ynon Kreiz co-CEO of the company it expects to form with Warner Bros. Discovery, assigning him day-to-day management and integration of the combined businesses. The appointment is effective only when the pending acquisition closes. Paramount has proposed bringing Paramount+, HBO Max and Pluto into a larger direct-to-consumer business, but it has not announced what subscribers will need to do—or whether the apps themselves will change.
Why is Paramount adding a co-CEO?
Paramount announced Kreiz’s appointment on September 30, 2026, as an operating decision tied to the anticipated acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD). The proposed division of responsibilities puts the integration work with Kreiz while leaving Paramount chairman and CEO David Ellison focused on the combined company’s longer-term direction.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
![Best of Warner Bros. 50 Film Collection (BD) [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51qrQaTrIWL._SL160_.jpg)
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Best of Warner Bros. 50 Film Collection (BD) [Blu-ray] | $259.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Venture Bros.: Radiant is the Blood of the Baboon Heart (Blu-ray) | $10.89 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Maverick (BD) | $11.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Maltese Falcon, The (4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray) | $17.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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WB 100th 25Film Collection Vol 1 Award Winners (Blu-ray) | $109.97 | Buy on Amazon |
Kreiz will manage operations and integration
Paramount says Kreiz will oversee “the Company’s day-to-day operations and integration of the combined businesses.” The company’s announcement describes his remit as managing the work of bringing the businesses together, rather than setting the combined company’s creative and long-term strategic priorities.
Ellison will focus on longer-term priorities
Paramount says Ellison will focus on long-term strategy, creative direction, talent relationships, strategic partnerships, technology and capital allocation. Ellison called the proposed combination “a transformational moment for our industry.” Kreiz said he was excited to partner with Ellison to build a media and entertainment company serving global audiences across entertainment and distribution platforms. Both statements appeared in Paramount’s September 30 announcement and describe the company’s aims, not completed results.
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Will HBO Max and Paramount+ merge?
Paramount’s merger announcement proposed building a direct-to-consumer business around Paramount+, HBO Max and Pluto, with the goal of greater reach and engagement. That is a strategic plan, not a consumer-facing service announcement.
| Service | Current brand and owner | Role in the proposed strategy | What is confirmed for subscribers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paramount+ | Paramount brand | Named as one of the services around which the combined direct-to-consumer business would be built. | No announced app change, account migration, price change or catalog plan. |
| HBO Max | Warner Bros. Discovery brand | Named alongside Paramount+ and Pluto in the proposed direct-to-consumer business. | No announced app change, account migration, price change or catalog plan. |
| Pluto | Paramount brand | Named as part of the proposed direct-to-consumer strategy. | No announced app change, account migration, price change or catalog plan. |
The merger announcement does not establish that the apps will become one app, that any existing service will shut down, or that subscribers will be moved automatically. It also gives no launch date or confirmed pricing, account, catalog or service-availability plan. Those are the practical details a subscriber would need before knowing whether or how the deal affects their viewing.
Is the Paramount–Warner Bros. Discovery deal closed?
No, not according to the status reported as of October 3, 2026. A federal judge approved a settlement with 12 states on September 30, and the Associated Press reported that the companies expected to complete the merger on October 6. That date was an expectation, not confirmation that the deal had closed.
What regulators have said
The U.S. Department of Justice Antitrust Division said its investigation concluded that the proposed deal was not likely to harm competition or American consumers in streaming video on demand, linear television, or theatrical-film studio development, production or distribution. DOJ described an eight-month investigation and said it received more than two million documents from over 80 custodians. Those process figures and the competition conclusion are the agency’s statements.
Rank #3
- Maverick [Blu-ray]
- PHYSICAL_MOVIE
- warner home video
The UK Competition and Markets Authority cleared the proposed acquisition on August 6, 2026; its case record lists the inquiry as closed on August 17. Paramount Skydance Corporation separately reported regulatory clearances in 68 countries worldwide. These regulatory actions do not constitute an announcement of how streaming subscriptions or apps will be handled.
A separate theatrical-film commitment
A U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filing describing the state consent decree sets requirements for covered theatrical films during a five-year commitment period: at least 30 films in each of the first two years, then at least 32 in each of years three through five. The decree also specifies minimum wide-release and independent-film counts and a theatrical window. These are obligations concerning covered theatrical releases; they do not define streaming availability for every film in either company’s library.
Rank #4
- Item name: The Maltese Falcon
- Product type: PHYSICAL MOVIE
- Brand: WB
What will the combined company be called?
Axios reported on October 2, 2026, that the combined company would be called Skydance. Axios also reported that Ellison said the name would give the combined company an identity while allowing the Paramount and Warner Bros. brands to remain prominent. This reported name does not, by itself, signal a change to any streaming app’s name or branding.
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.
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