Warner Bros. Discovery reportedly interested in combining Max with Paramount+

Warner Bros. Discovery has reportedly expressed interest in a potential deal with Paramount Global to combine Max and Paramount+. Variety and CNBC both report that WBD has expressed early interest in exploring a partnership with Paramount for a combined service. The news comes as Paramount Global looks to cut costs and explore selling some assets, while also increasing the profitability of Paramount+ through a partnership.

According to the reports, WBD is interested in evaluating a streaming joint venture with Paramount Global, whose leadership team has been open about their desire to secure a partnership. The situation is still very early, with Variety describing it as both companies “testing the waters” on what a partnership would look like.

Paramount previously discussed the possibility of merging Paramount+ with NBCUniversal’s Peacock, but nothing has come of it. Paramount has been the subject of merger speculation, with Skydance Media in talks before Paramount’s controlling shareholder Shari Redstone called off the talks last month.