After its recently completed merger with Warner Bros. Discovery, Skydance owns a number of apps alongside its cable channels, as well as multiple film studios. The company has shared plans to merge its flagship Paramount+ app with its HBO Max app, but has not shared pricing plans for the combined app.
“Combining HBO Max and Paramount+ into a single platform or bundle will likely squeeze subscribers’ wallets over time. While existing subscribers to both might enjoy short-term savings, analysts expect overall prices to rise as the combined giant seeks profitability,” the BBC reported.
The merged company carries $80 billion in debt from the deal. Executives have targeted $6 billion in annual cost savings.
And with the ink barely dry on the merger agreement, Skydance has raised prices on another of its flagship apps, the Discovery Channel’s Discovery+ app.
Skydance raises Discovery+ prices
While the merger agreement did include some film production promises, David Ellison, who leads Skydance, did not agree to freeze pricing for any period of time.
“Starting today for new customers and running through Nov. 12 for existing subscribers, the cost of Discovery Plus is increasing by $1 to $7 per month for the ad-supported tier and by $2 to $12 per month for commercial-free streaming of shows and documentaries,” TheDesk.net reported.
Technically, according to the app’s sign-up page, the prices are $6.99 and $11.99.
The higher prices take effect immediately for new subscribers. Existing subscribers will get 30 days’ notice and see the higher rates on bills dated on or after Nov. 12.
Discovery+ launched in 2021, at $4.99 a month for its ad-supported tier and $6.99 for ad-free. Nearly six years later, the price of the cheapest tier has risen roughly 40%, and the ad-free tier has jumped about 72%.
This is the service’s second price hike since January 2025.
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The stand-alone streaming service features tens of thousands of TV episodes from cable networks such as HGTV, Food Network, and TLC.
Much of its programming, however, can be found on other Skydance-owned platforms. As a former subscriber, I found that it was no longer a valuable subscription, since I had access to many of the shows I watched there on other apps.
When you have to pay back $80 billion, and cut $6 billion per year, however, price increases will likely be part of the plan.
“Skydance has said those savings will come primarily from technology, procurement, marketing and real estate, and Ellison has said the bulk won’t come from layoffs. Industry observers expect that debt load to add pressure for more price increases across Skydance’s streaming lineup,” The Porterville Recorder reported.
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These are the apps Skydance owns
- Paramount+: Subscription streaming for movies, TV shows, sports, and news.
- Pluto TV: Free, ad-supported streaming channels and on-demand programming.
- BET+: Subscription streaming focused on Black entertainment.
- HBO Max: Streaming service for HBO programming, Warner Bros. movies and series.
- Discovery+: Streaming service focused on reality, lifestyle, and documentary programming.
- Bleacher Report: Sports news, video, and related content.
- CBS News: News coverage and live streaming.
- CBS Sports: Sports news, scores, and video content.
- CNN, TNT, and TBS: CNN has its own news app, while TNT and TBS offer digital access to programming through other apps owned by the company.
Skydance did make one app promise
While the new company did not promise to hold prices, combine and/or eliminate some of its new apps, it did agree to one app-related condition.
“As part of a settlement with 12 U.S. states, Skydance has to promise that it won’t shut Pluto TV down or absorb it into another service for at least five years,” CableTV.com reported.
Skydance also agreed to a film quota as part of its settlement with states that objected to the deal.
For the first two years, that’s 30 movies annually, and for the remaining period it has to release 32 films each year. That’s 156 movies in total — and the majority have to be “wide releases,” meaning they must be shown in cinemas for at least a 45-day window.
“If Skydance misses its movie quota, it could be forced to sell its 49% stake in Miramax – the studio co-founded by disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein,” the BBC reported.
Once the five-year deal ends, however, nothing can stop Skydance from following rivals like Disney and Netflix in prioritizing streaming over cinema.
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