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For now, existing HBO Max and Paramount+ subscribers can keep using their services as usual. The companies say there are no immediate changes to apps, content, subscriptions, or pricing, and HBO Max subscribers do not need to take action right now. Skydance announced that its acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery closed on October 6, 2026, and said the streaming products will unify into a single service “over time.” The company has not announced when that will happen or how accounts, prices, or watchlists will be handled.
Do I have to do anything as an existing HBO Max subscriber?
No. HBO Max’s current company FAQ says existing subscribers do not need to take action right now. It also says there are no immediate changes to subscriptions, content, pricing, or apps. The FAQ covers Paramount+ as well.
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That is a statement about the current transition period, not a guarantee that nothing will change later. Keep using your service unless the company or the organization that bills you sends instructions. Check the official help page and your billing provider’s notices before changing or canceling a plan.
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No future price for a unified service has been announced in the cited company materials. HBO Max’s FAQ says there are no immediate price changes and that subscribers will receive advance notice of any future changes; it does not state a future amount. The acquisition announcement likewise gives no combined-service price.
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Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery previously launched a separate U.S. Disney+, Hulu, and Max bundle on July 25, 2024. Its launch prices were $16.99 per month with ads and $29.99 per month without ads, according to Warner Bros. Discovery’s announcement. Those are historical prices for a different bundle—not current 2026 rates, a price for the planned unified service, or evidence that existing accounts will transfer.
Will my watchlist, profiles, or viewing history move?
That has not been announced. The official consumer FAQ and acquisition announcement do not specify whether watchlists, profiles, viewing history, or recommendations will transfer. The plan to unify streaming products does not, by itself, establish how personal account data will be handled.
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When the company publishes consumer migration terms, look for specific answers about:
- Whether profiles, watchlists, viewing history, and recommendations carry over.
- Whether a current subscription continues automatically or requires a new account or action.
- Which app and devices will provide access during and after the transition.
- What content is included, and whether access varies by plan or region.
- The monthly price and ad tier, including whether any existing price is preserved.
Will I need a new app or account?
Not right now: the FAQ says there are no immediate app or subscription changes. Skydance’s completion announcement says the direct-to-consumer products will unify into one service “over time,” but does not provide a consumer timetable or explain whether separate apps will remain available during a transition.
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David Ellison, Skydance’s chairman and CEO, said in the October 6, 2026 acquisition-completion announcement: “At the same time, consumers can expect greater innovation from a company built with technology at its core, including significant improvements to its direct-to-consumer streaming products, which will unify into a single service over time.” This describes a future direction; it does not set a launch date or explain account migration.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why does my billing method matter?
The current acquisition materials do not say how subscribers billed by a third party will be handled. It is worth knowing who bills you because past service closures have used different instructions for different billing routes. For example, SHOWTIME’s standalone streaming service was discontinued on April 30, 2024. Its help article said some customers billed directly by SHOWTIME, Roku, or Apple were eligible for automatic transfer, while customers billed through Amazon Prime Channels, Apple TV channels, The Roku Channel, or YouTube TV were directed to their provider. Some subscribers who were not eligible for transfer were told to subscribe separately and cancel the old service to avoid paying twice.
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That earlier SHOWTIME process is not a policy for HBO Max or Paramount+ subscribers in this acquisition. To prepare without making assumptions, identify the company shown on your bill and check its account page and messages for any future instructions.
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What is confirmed, and what remains unknown?
| Question | What is confirmed | What has not been announced |
|---|---|---|
| Has the acquisition closed? | Skydance announced completion of the Warner Bros. Discovery acquisition on October 6, 2026. | Not applicable. |
| Can I keep using my service now? | The company FAQ says HBO Max and Paramount+ have no immediate changes to apps, content, subscriptions, or pricing; existing HBO Max subscribers do not need to act right now. | How access will work after any future consolidation. |
| What will the unified service cost? | No immediate price changes are announced; the FAQ says advance notice will be given for future price changes. | The future price, ad tiers, and any treatment of current subscription prices. |
| Will my account data move? | The companies say their direct-to-consumer products will unify into a single service over time. | Migration timing and rules, including the treatment of billing routes, accounts, apps, profiles, watchlists, viewing history, and recommendations. |
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