What Streaming used to be

Imagine it’s 2016 and you’re on your couch scrolling through a new subscription a friend said had every movie possible, plus a new TV show inspired by Stephen King, Stranger Things. That subscription would be Netflix. Every popular show and movie was at your disposal with a click, for $9 a month. Fast forward to today, and if you want Disney movies, you need Disney+; if you want HBO movies, you need HBO Max. You need so many subscriptions to watch movies or shows and have decent TV. However, Paramount has recently acquired Warner Bro’s, which will no doubt give a consumer with Paramount Plus a superb viewing experience although come with long term downsides. 

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Streaming just got a lot better.

Popular brands such as Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and DC are joining Paramount Plus; media brands such as CBS, HBO Max, and CNN will merge into one massive media giant. As a result, those brands, such as the ones listed above, will be on Paramount for consumers, assuming you already have a subscription to Paramount Plus. Instead of paying for both HBO Max and Paramount, the two streaming giants plan to merge into a colossal streaming giant, much like what Netflix was in 2016. The possibility of seeing more original TV shows from the new media giant. The state of Paramount has a library of CBS football games, Star Trek and Tulsa King, and movies such as Mission: Impossible, Top Gun, and Raiders of the Lost Ark.

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Theaters will see more releases (hopefully)

Paramount has spoken publicly about the deal and how they hope to release 31 movies yearly in theaters with the new acquisition. Paramount has pledged to bring 31 movies yearly. This raises immediate concerns. Are new films set to be rushed through production solely for a cash grab? As a consumer, I would prefer seeing quality over quantity in theaters. Another concern is the amount of spinoffs, sequels, or prequels to franchises. The public has been pushing for more and more original ideas in Hollywood, and now, with Paramount’s acquisition, are we going to see more creative production or more movies made off of already established franchises? Paramount has already announced films such as Sonic the Hedgehog 4 and A Quiet Place Part III, both sequels to established franchises. Consumers are bound to see more sequels and spinoffs in theaters.

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The dangerous precedent this sets

With Paramount forming a bigger media giant, this sets what could be one of the most dangerous precedents in our government and economic culture: monopolies. Does this mean that companies could start forming bigger media giants? Courts ruled that the merger did not result in a monopoly, as it did not affect the following: studio development, Television, and Streaming. They argued that having a merger of making streaming this big would cause more competition in the market, with Netflix or Prime Video acquiring more media for their on-demand TV. The courts argued more or less the same, as having a bigger streaming giant would create more pressure for TV studios to increase production. The courts also said the legacy of a studio does not affect whether a movie has success. They argued movies such as Hail Mary from Amazon MGM and Obsession from Blumhouse are examples of how lesser-known studios are still able to produce successful content. Consumers could see a price spike in their subscription as Paramount is 13.8 billion in debt. Subscription prices rose in January, and as Paramount plans to cut costs to become more profitable and become a bigger media company, we can only expect to see prices rise like Hulu.

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For the Future

In short, the Paramount-Warner Bros deal will greatly benefit the consumer, with Paramount reaping the benefits of the deal by acquiring more media on Paramount+. We can also expect more blockbusters to enter the theaters in the coming two years. Over the past 3 years, we have seen a shortage of films entering theaters, and the thought of getting an extra 31 films entering cinemas from an established studio known for blockbuster movies is exciting to look forward to. Paramount’s goal with the acquisition is more of a business decision rather than one for the consumer. In 2025, Paramount stated they were deeply unsatisfied with theater releases and profits. Whether other media companies merge into bigger giants or if the merger creates more competition is still unknown.

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