Netflix has given up on its proposed takeover of Warner Bros Discovery, and it’s now looking likely that Paramount will be able to complete the deal. The $111 billion takeover is one of the greatest media mergers in history, and it will allow Paramount to compete with the likes of Netflix and Amazon.
If the deal goes through, Paramount will acquire all of Warner Bros Discovery’s studios, including HBO. The legendary television studio will be a huge boost to Paramount’s platform, with Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison predicting that it could give the company over 200 million subscribers.
Paramount Set for Warner Bros Discovery Merger
Paramount has been one of the smaller players in the booming streaming era up to now, but the massive merger with Warner Bros Discovery will completely shake things up. Initially, Netflix had proposed a deal and was almost set to complete it, but Paramount swept in and usurped the streaming giant at the final hour. If it hadn’t done this, Netflix could have become an unbeatable force in streaming. Now, though, Paramount looks set to become one of the whales.
The fact that this deal is valued at a whopping $111 billion highlights the impact it will have for Paramount. Along with strengthening its streaming platform massively, it will enable the company to explore new franchise ventures across different media including cinema and gaming.
Turning Old Shows into Long-Term Assets
The fact that Paramount will be able to add the HBO catalogue to its own is something that will put it up there with the major streaming platforms. HBO is home to some of the greatest shows of all time, including The Wire, The Sopranos, and Boardwalk Empire.
On top of that, it has various successful franchises that are still at the front and centre of the mainstream. Game of Thrones, for instance, may have finished more than six years ago, but it still lives on in popular culture in various ways.
Along with the two ongoing spinoffs, House of the Dragon and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, there’s the Game of Thrones slot game. That title can be found among various other fantasy games, with the Age of the Gods progressive slot machines sharing many similarities with the official HBO title. There’s potential for additional slots and mobile games based on the franchise too, which would all help to attract more viewers.
Paramount can turn these ongoing franchises and older offerings into long-term assets. Along with making them all available on its platform, it could delve into potential reboots of classics or create related spinoffs. The fact that it also has access to new HBO content that hasn’t been created yet is another major advantage, as it can position itself as a platform where high quality is always guaranteed.
Over the long term, getting access to HBO content will be worth billions to Paramount. Along with making the platform a direct competitor to the likes of Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, it will open up a host of new franchising opportunities that could lead to new revenue streams.
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