> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.bullished.co/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Skydance Targets Streaming Merger In Roughly A Year, Betting AI Can Speed The Work - URL: https://www.bullished.co/skydance-targets-streaming-merger-in-roughly-a-year-betting-ai-can-speed-the-work-0e65775a/ - Published: 2026-11-09T23:11:21.000Z - Updated: 2026-11-09T23:11:21.000Z - Description: Management sees revenue benefits beyond its forecasts, while targeting at least $1.4 billion in technology savings. - Author: Matteo Parrino - Tags: Earnings, SKYD, Industry: Communication Services [Skydance](https://www.bullished.co/tag/skyd/), the media and entertainment company behind Paramount+ and Pluto TV, aims to combine Paramount+ and HBO Max technology in roughly a year, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer David Ellison said on the company's earnings call Monday. The target is faster than its earlier streaming integration, which took about 18 months, and rests on management's bet that artificial intelligence can accelerate the work. ## A Bundle Before One Platform “This is possible because of the latest tools in artificial intelligence,” Ellison said. Skydance plans to offer a Paramount+ and HBO Max bundle in early 2027 as an intermediate step toward a fully combined product. The Warner Bros. Discovery deal's [October closing](https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/skydance-q3-profit-studios-streaming-1236943416/?ref=bullished.co) left the acquired properties outside the reported quarter. Skydance's earlier technology project moved Pluto TV onto the Paramount+ platform and incorporated BET+ into Paramount+. Ellison put the paid services' combined worldwide subscriber count at 203 million, with Pluto TV adding roughly 75 million monthly active users. He argued that shared technology would improve the viewing experience and help the company compete with services approaching 300 million subscribers. Skydance's business spans film and television production, streaming, broadcast and cable networks. Its brands include Paramount Pictures, CBS, Nickelodeon, MTV, BET and Comedy Central; advertising, subscriptions, distributor fees and film and television licensing are its main sources of revenue. Ellison favors a predominantly direct subscription business, but said distribution partners still have a role where they bring additional viewers. Pricing changes will be phased in with consumer feedback rather than introduced all at once. ## Revenue Gains Outside The Plan An analyst from Bank of America asked management to spell out the revenue opportunities as concretely as its cost targets. Co-Chief Executive Officer Ynon Kreiz pointed to more flexible release schedules, a more complete offering for distributors and coordinated advertising sales across CBS Sports and TNT Sports. Advertisers could buy across broadcast, cable and streaming through a single partner. Kreiz also expects the combined content offering to increase average revenue per subscriber and the value of each customer relationship over time, while spreading content and technology investment across a larger subscriber base. Chief Financial Officer Dennis Cinelli stressed that these potential revenue benefits were excluded from the business plan and the assumptions used to evaluate the acquisition. “So this is all upside to what we plan going forward.” The technology project also sits inside a broader savings program. Kreiz targets at least $1.4 billion from shared streaming systems, broadcast infrastructure, combined technology teams and AI-assisted coding—not solely from merging the consumer services. Management expects at least $6 billion in annualized savings within three years. Its other targets include at least $2.2 billion from corporate overhead and property, at least $1 billion from marketing and at least $1.4 billion from vendors and purchasing. Cinelli said achieving the program would cost $4 billion in cash, including $1.5 billion to $2 billion in 2027. ## Warner Films Weigh On The Outlook Standalone Paramount's third-quarter revenue rose 5% year over year, and Paramount+ revenue grew 21%. Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization reached $1 billion, exceeding the top of management's guidance. The near-term studio outlook is weaker. Cinelli expects Warner Bros. film underperformance to reduce fourth-quarter adjusted earnings by $200 million, more than offsetting the Paramount slate's performance and leaving combined studio revenue and earnings growth below earlier expectations. Paramount remains on track for its previous 2026 outlook, including $3.9 billion in adjusted earnings at the high end of its profitability range. Management is switching to annual guidance and plans to provide its full 2027 outlook on the next earnings call. Cinelli expects cash flow to be breakeven or better in 2027, including spending to achieve the savings. Until Skydance meets its debt target, cash beyond business reinvestment and the current dividend will go toward debt repayment. The early-2027 bundle is the first planned consumer launch; management also plans an Investor Day in the first half of 2027. Learn - [How To Read An Earnings Call Transcript: Start With Guidance, Then Find What's Missing →](https://www.bullished.co/learn/how-to-read-an-earnings-call/) How to read an earnings call transcript: check guidance first, look for dropped metrics, compare growth with last quarter, and watch hedged wording. ### Sources - [Skydance Q3 Profit Powered By Studios, Streaming](https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/skydance-q3-profit-studios-streaming-1236943416/?ref=bullished.co) — variety.com - [Skydance First Earnings Release Post-Warner Deal Q3 2026 Revealed](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/skydance-first-earnings-q3-post-wb-deal-1236751164/?ref=bullished.co) — hollywoodreporter.com - [Paramount+, HBO Max Bundle Is Coming Ahead of Skydance Streamer Merger - Business Insider](https://www.businessinsider.com/skydance-paramount-hbo-max-streaming-bundle-q3-earnings-2026-11?ref=bullished.co) — Business Insider - [Skydance $6 billion cost savings breakdown](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/11/09/skydance-cost-savings-breakdown.html?ref=bullished.co) — CNBC - [Paramount Skydance: Q3 Earnings Snapshot](https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/paramount-skydance-q3-earnings-snapshot-211134126.html?ref=bullished.co) — Associated Press ### More on Skydance - [Skydance Sales Grow 5% — But Warner Bros. Films Could Cost $200 Million In Profit](https://www.bullished.co/skydance-sales-grow-5-but-warner-bros-films-could-cost-200-million-in-profit-71ef4d43/) - [Skydance Tells Directors And Executives Not To Trade Class B Stock During 401(k) Blackout](https://www.bullished.co/skydance-tells-directors-and-executives-not-to-trade-class-b-stock-during-401-k-blackout-a812e831/) - [Skydance Hands Out 470.7 Million Warrants Struck At $12.00, Excluding The Ellisons And RedBird](https://www.bullished.co/skydance-hands-out-470-7-million-warrants-struck-at-12-00-excluding-the-ellisons-and-fd16615f/) [All Skydance (SKYD) coverage →](https://www.bullished.co/tag/skyd/)