What Paramount’s Bundling Talks Could Mean for You
By Movieguide® Contributor
Paramount+ is looking into new ways to make money as it prepares for its upcoming merger with Skydance.
The merger between Paramount and Skydance has been confirmed to close in the first half of 2025, according to Deadline.
“Having thoroughly explored actionable opportunities for Paramount over nearly eight months, our Special Committee continues to believe that the transaction we have agreed with Skydance delivers immediate value and the potential for continued participation in value creation in a rapidly evolving industry landscape,” said Charles E. Phillips, Jr., Chair of Paramount Global’s Special Committee.
Now, Paramount is looking for new ways to cut costs, “exploring a wide range of strategic options for the outlet” — specifically, possibly bundling with other streamers.
“We think Paramount+ has a lot to gain from opting to partner and putting the costly business of going it alone behind it,” MoffettNathanson analyst Robert Fishman wrote to clients, adding that, instead of “synthetic” bundles like Disney+ and Hulu’s partnership, Paramount should look into “a true consumer-friendly blend into a single app.”
An anonymous former top media executive who previously ran a streaming service told Deadline, “Some kind of combined offering to satisfy frustrated consumers would be like cable TV at its height. What a beautiful thing if we could re-create that. Today, the only thing that comes close to that is Netflix. What the rest of the industry should think about is, could we do something together?”
DirecTV Chief Content Officer Rob Thun hopes to be part of these new developments in streaming.
“We do believe we have a role to play,” he said of the conversations surrounding streamer mergers. “We call it superaggregation. We are already aggregating linear and can do more in digital.”
Another way Paramount is cutting costs is by shuttering their TV division.
“In a memo to staff, Paramount Global co-CEO George Cheeks said the decision to close the studio isn’t based on its performance, but rather ‘the result of significant changes in the TV and streaming marketplace and the need to streamline our company,’” the New York Post reported.
Current TV shows and projects in development will transition to Paramount’s sister production unit, CBS Studios.
Movieguide® previously reported on Paramount’s closure of the TV division:
Paramount Global will shut down its TV series division, Paramount Television Studios, as it tries to cut costs by $2 billion.
“This has been a challenging and transformative time for the entire industry, and sadly, our studio is not immune,” said Nicole Clemens, the division’s president. The studio “has weathered seemingly insurmountable obstacles through a combination of strength, determination, and unwavering commitment.”
“We met these challenges with incredible resilience, creativity, and passion for what we do, and I could not be prouder of our team. We’ve also had the privilege to collaborate with some of the most brilliant creative talent in the industry to help tell incredible stories seen around the world, entertaining and shaping culture,” she continued.
The company laid off approximately 800 staff members in February, and all projects underway will move to CBS Studios.
