Paramount $111B WBD/Max takeover + content windows + tech stack merger + bundle survey + NZ/Vietnam launch + The Pitt S3 update + Spain originals chief + price cut & 150M sub target + Discovery+ migration + AI ad product expansion + Song of the Samurai trending
Key Questions
What is the status of the Paramount and WBD/Max merger?
Q3 close is advancing for the $111B takeover, with Paramount merging Pluto TV, BET+, and Paramount+ onto one tech stack for HBO Max integration. WBD projects 150M subscribers by year-end after cutting annual plan prices by 40%.
How is HBO Max's 'Song of the Samurai' performing?
The series is trending in Asia and Latin America and positioned as a potential successor to Shōgun. It shows solid FlixPatrol performance following strong results for similar samurai content.
What expansions are happening for HBO Max's AI ad tools?
WBD is expanding its AI contextual ad product 'Moments' to Europe and LatAm, featuring 25K moments and delivering a 19% engagement lift in the US. This strengthens WBD's ad-tech credentials ahead of the merger.
Q3 close advancing; 140M subs/churn 4.8%. THE BRIDE! Max premiere May 22. HBO Max dominates Nielsen with 1.3B minutes viewed. UK/EU expansion and curated channels Jul '26. WBD AI ad tools. Max entering live sports with MLB playoffs. HBO Max trailer for House of the Dragon S3, Harry Potter series, Lanterns. Alison Janney original movie streaming. The Pitt Season 3 production underway for early 2027. Latest: Paramount merging Pluto TV, BET+, Paramount+ onto one tech stack for HBO Max integration. Survey: 23% prefer Paramount+/HBO Max bundle at $19.99. HBO Max launched in NZ and Vietnam. Appointed Guillermo Farré as Spain originals chief. New: HBO Max cut annual plan prices by 40% ahead of House of the Dragon S3 (97% RT), Zaslav projects 150M subs by year-end. WBD migrating Discovery+ to Max tech infrastructure. Latest: HBO Max expanding AI contextual ad product 'Moments' to Europe and LatAm (25K moments, 19% engagement lift in US), strengthening WBD's ad-tech credentials ahead of merger. New: HBO Max's samurai series 'Song of the Samurai' trending in Asia and Latin America, positioned as a potential successor to Shōgun, with solid FlixPatrol performance. Minor: HBO Max removed Samurai Jack, continuing content churn.