Everything Paramount Will Own Under Skydance

Paramount-Warner Bros. Merger to Create Skydance

The conglomerate resulting from the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger will be called Skydance, chairman and CEO David Ellison announced. The name is taken from Ellison’s film production company, Skydance Media, which was founded in 2006.

The merger is expected to close on Oct. 6, completing the union of two of the United States’ most established movie studios. The combined company will bring together a large collection of subsidiaries, streaming platforms, television networks, film operations and intellectual property, including HBO Max, Paramount+ and major franchises such as Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings.

The transaction faced lawsuits from U.S. states, all of which have since been settled. It also drew criticism from members of the entertainment industry. Ahead of the expected closing, Ellison shared a video on X highlighting the film and production companies, television channels and intellectual property that Skydance would control.

Companies and Networks Skydance Will Own

Once the merger is complete, Skydance’s portfolio will include the following international and U.S. assets:

• Adult Swim
• Alloy Entertainment
• American Heroes Channel
• Ananey
• Animal Planet
• Asian Food Network
• BET
• Bleacher Report
• Boomerang
• Cartoonito
• Cartoon Network
• CBS
• Channel 5
• CMT
• CNN
• CNN All Access
• CNN Español
• Comedy Central
• Cooking Channel
• DC Studios
• Discovery
• Discovery+
• Discovery Family Channel
• Discovery Home and Health
• Discovery Turbo
• DMAX
• Eurosport
• Food Network
• HBO/HBO Max
• HGTV
• HLN
• Hogar HGTV
• Miramax
• MTV
• Nickelodeon
• Nick Jr.
• Network 10
• New Line Cinema
• Paramount+
• Paramount Animation
• Paramount Sports Entertainment
• Paramount Television Studios
• Pluto TV
• Pop TV
• Showtime
• Skydance Animation
• SkyShowtime
• Smithsonian Channel
• TCM
• TLC
• TNT
• TV Land
• Warner Bros.

Film and Television Franchises Included in the Deal

Skydance will also own the film rights and much of the television rights to a wide range of recognizable entertainment properties. The listed intellectual property includes:

• Avatar: The Last Airbender
• Beetlejuice
• Citizen Kane
• The Conjuring
• DC Comics
• Dora The Explorer
• Dune: Part Three (distribution rights)
• Harry Potter
• Game of Thrones
• Gremlins
• Looney Tunes
• The Lord of the Rings
• Minecraft (distribution rights)
• Mission: Impossible
• MonsterVerse (distribution rights)
• Mortal Kombat
• A Quiet Place
• SpongeBob SquarePants
• Star Trek
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
• Tom & Jerry
• Transformers

Why This Matters

The planned Skydance merger would combine two major entertainment businesses and place a large collection of studios, broadcast networks, cable channels, streaming services and globally recognized franchises under one corporate structure. The deal’s expected Oct. 6 closing follows the settlement of lawsuits brought by U.S. states, although the transaction has also faced criticism from members of the entertainment industry.

David Ellison’s decision to use the Skydance name links the new conglomerate to Skydance Media, the production company he founded in 2006. The final scope of the combined company includes assets spanning film, television, streaming and international media, as well as rights connected to major properties such as Harry Potter, Star Trek, Transformers and The Lord of the Rings.

Frequently Asked Questions

What will the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger be called?

The resulting conglomerate will be called Skydance, according to chairman and CEO David Ellison.

When is the merger expected to close?

The merger is expected to close on Oct. 6.

What will Skydance own?

Skydance will own or control a broad portfolio of film and television companies, networks and streaming services, including HBO/HBO Max, Paramount+, CBS, Warner Bros., Paramount Animation, DC Studios and Pluto TV. It will also own the film rights and much of the television rights to properties including Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings, Star Trek, Transformers and SpongeBob SquarePants.

SEE ALSO: John Oliver mocks ‘soon-to-be business daddy’ David Ellison