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Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison announced on X that the combined Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery company will be called Skydance, ahead of the acquisition's completion on October 6. Ellison had previously said Paramount+ and HBO Max would be merged into a single streaming service with roughly 200 million subscribers if regulators approved the deal.
Heated Rivalry, a Crave original based on Rachel Reid's novels about romances between hockey players, debuted in November 2025 and became the streamer's top-performing original series, generating more subscriber sign-ups than any other title that year. The show also performed strongly internationally through HBO Max in the U.S., where each episode had been streamed more than 10 million times by February 2026. Producers and network executives at Crave and parent company Bell Media say they worked intensively to bring the adaptation from book to screen in roughly 18 months.
HBO has added Laura Bailey and Ian Alexander to the cast of 'The Last of Us' Season 3, both of whom previously voiced characters in the video game series. They will play new characters in the show rather than reprising their game roles directly.
HBO Max is adding 'Evil Dead Burn,' Sébastien Vaniček's entry in Sam Raimi's horror franchise, to its lineup next week. The release lands just ahead of Halloween.
Paramount Skydance is preparing to merge with Warner Bros. Discovery, placing CEO David Ellison in control of major entertainment brands including HBO, HBO Max and Paramount+. Both companies have undergone repeated name and platform changes in recent years, from Warner Media to WBD and from Paramount+ rebrands, reflecting ongoing restructuring across the industry.
Disney Plus revised its subscriber agreement in Europe, sparking confusion that ads would now appear across all its plans globally. In reality, ad-free Standard and Premium subscribers in Europe and the US see no change to their viewing experience under the updated terms.
The animated series 'Stuart Fails to Save the Universe' has included a cameo appearance from a well-known DC hero, beating DC's own film slate to the punch. The crossover was reportedly made possible through connections tied to the upcoming HBO series 'Lanterns'.
Roku introduced more than 30 channel bundles combining services like Starz, HBO Max, AMC Plus and its own Howdy platform, offering discounts of up to 33% off monthly rates compared to subscribing separately. The bundles are permanent offerings, not limited-time promotions, and are purchasable through Roku devices, the mobile app or the Roku Channel website.
Roku introduced more than 30 subscription bundles that combine services like HBO Max, Starz, Hallmark+, and Fox One, offering savings of up to 30% off individual prices. The company also launched a Labs section where users can test in-development apps and features and provide feedback, alongside upgrades to Roku Voice and search.
HBO Max released a mid-season trailer for DC Studios' 'Lanterns' show, previewing its final three episodes set to air in 2026. The footage shows John Stewart turning to fellow Green Lanterns Sinestro and Guy Gardner for guidance as the season's murder mystery plot advances.
At a Los Angeles event, Snap CEO Evan Spiegel introduced new capabilities for the company's Specs smart glasses, including streaming integration with HBO Max and Spotify and a new AI system called Specs Intelligence. The AI system is designed to connect with other devices like iPhones and Macs, learning users' habits and priorities to help them manage ongoing projects and daily routines.
Apple TV became the most-awarded network at the Emmys with 29 wins, edging out HBO's 21, marking the first time Apple TV finished atop the platform rankings. HBO programming chief Casey Bloys called Apple a formidable competitor but admitted it's unsettling to compete against a trillion-dollar company.