Paramount plans to combine HBO Max and Paramount+ once the WBD transaction is complete; Fox thinks its NFL “current pricing is at market”; and Ilitch Sports + Entertainment announces the launch of Detroit SportsNet. Plus news on Netflix, PGA of America, ESPN and Tommy Hutton.
Paramount planning to combine streaming services once WBD transaction is complete
Paramount is planning to combine the HBO Max and Paramount+ streaming platforms once its $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery is complete, a move that it says would create a service with over 200 million subscribers. During a call with investors on Monday morning, Paramount chairman/CEO David Ellison said that the company is confident it will generate more consumer value. Ellison also said that consolidating the streaming services will contribute to its synergy target.
Despite projecting $79 billion of net debt at closing, Paramount is not looking to divest or spin off any cable assets at the moment. The cable networks it would acquire from WBD — including the TNT Sports networks of TNT, TBS and truTV — were originally planned to be spun off into a separate entity called Discovery Global. It remains unknown how those networks will be impacted as Paramount aims to reduce debt.
“I think by putting basically the combined linear businesses together, it gives us an incredible footprint across both content and sports,” Ellison said. “It also gives us the operational efficiencies we believe to keep those businesses healthier for significantly longer than they would be on a standalone basis, which will be good for jobs [and] will be good for free cash flow.”
Ellison touted the combined company’s sports portfolio, but downplayed the possibility that it might incur regulatory scrutiny. “I think if you look at peers like ESPN and others, you won’t see anything that’s obviously further consolidated or out of line with other industry leaders in the space,” Ellison said. He added that Paramount has “future-proofed” its UFC deal so that it can air content across any newly-acquired properties.
Murdoch: Fox NFL “current pricing is at market”
Fox Corporation CEO Lachlan Murdoch said during an interview at the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media and Telecom Conference Monday that the company has “not had any material conversations with the NFL about a renewal yet” and that the company is “comfortable” with its situation, as it has four years remaining on its current deal before any NFL-triggered renegotiation would go into effect.
Murdoch said Fox is currently paying a “market price” for NFL rights and noted that the company agreed to double its rights fee only three years ago. Fox pays a reported $2.25 billion per year to televise NFL games. Murdoch: “[T]o the extent that there was any incremental cost for that NFL programming, I think the key thing for people to realize [is] that incremental cost would flow through to local affiliates, to our distributors, and ultimately, to consumers and the fans.”
Speaking on its earnings call last month, Murdoch said that Fox Corporation could “consider balancing or rebalancing” its sports portfolio to offset higher costs for NFL programming. Fox also has three years remaining on its contract with Major League Baseball for a reported $728.6 million annually that will expire in 2028, in addition to other deals with the Big Ten, NASCAR and FIFA.
The company has been airing NFL games since 1994 when it acquired the NFC rights package previously held by CBS. Fox is scheduled to air Super Bowl LXIII to conclude the 2028 season, one season before the NFL is able to activate opt outs in most of its national television contracts.
Ilitch Sports + Entertainment to launch Detroit SportsNet
Ilitch Sports + Entertainment has announced the launch of Detroit SportsNet, which will serve as the new broadcast home for the Detroit Tigers this season and the Detroit Red Wings for games beginning in the 2026-27 campaign. The network will announce cable and satellite television arrangements once distributor deals are finalized. In-market streaming subscriptions for the new network are now available for purchase on a monthly and annual basis.
The Tigers are one of 14 teams who agreed to have MLB produce and distribute their games. Red Wings games are expected to continue airing on FanDuel Sports Network Detroit through the rest of the 2025-26 season, although that is not a guarantee with the situation surrounding Main Street Sports Group. Ilitch Sports + Entertainment will be responsible for the broadcast production of Red Wings games with assistance from MLB.
The Tigers television broadcast team of Jason Benetti, Dan Dickerson, Andy Dirks and Dan Petry will be returning for the 2026 season. As for the Red Wings, the announcing duo of Ken Daniels and Mickey Redmond is “expected to continue leading Red Wings telecasts for years to come.” Mike Mazzeo of Sports Business Journal reported that the channel will have pregame and postgame offerings but “will not be 24/7.”
The Detroit Pistons are not part of the new platform, although their game broadcasts are also on FDSN Detroit and thus on uncertain ground. The NBA has plans to create a local streaming rights package that is likely to include teams currently within the Main Street portfolio, per a report by John Ourand of Puck. Tom Friend of Sports Business Journal reported that the NBA informed teams to avoid contract extensions or long-term deals with Main Street or other platforms.
Plus: Netflix, PGA of America, ESPN, Tommy Hutton
- Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos said in an interview with Lucas Shaw of Bloomberg that the company’s $27.75/share offer to acquire studio and streaming assets owned by Warner Bros. Discovery was presented as its “last and final.” Once Netflix learned that WBD had deemed Paramount’s bid “superior,” Sarandos said the company “knew right away” that it would not match the offer. Sarandos later added that Netflix will use the $2.8 billion breakup fee payment as an investment for its business.
- The PGA of America has extended its media rights deals with both NBC Sports and Versant’s USA Sports for two years through 2033, it was announced Monday. The deal includes the Women’s PGA Championship, PGA Senior Championship and most notably the Ryder Cup, with NBC and USA Sports adding the U.S.-based 2033 edition. NBC has aired the Ryder Cup dating back to 1991.
- Jeff Passan has signed a multiyear contract extension with ESPN to continue serving as the network’s senior MLB insider, it was announced Monday. Passan, who joined ESPN seven years ago after working at Yahoo Sports, is also going to launch a baseball podcast “in conjunction with Omaha Productions.”
- Miami Marlins television analyst Tommy Hutton will be departing the broadcast booth after the 2026 season, ending a 28-year career on Marlins broadcasts. Hutton played 12 seasons in MLB as an infielder and outfielder, and he returned to the organization in 2022 after he was fired by the team seven years earlier.
