PARAMOUNT AND WARNER BROS MERGER TO BE CALLED SKYDANCE

The merged entertainment giant will drop both legacy names in favor of Skydance, the production company founded by Ellison that initiated the acquisition. Ellison announced the decision via X, stating the company wanted "a name that would give the combined company an identity of its own while allowing Paramount and Warner Bros. - and all our extraordinary brands - to remain in the spotlight." The consolidation represents a major restructuring of the media landscape. Paramount brings iconic franchises including Star Trek, Mission: Impossible, and MTV, while Warner Bros. Discovery controls HBO, DC Comics properties, and CNN. Under the Skydance umbrella, these brands will maintain their individual identities despite operating under unified corporate ownership. The $110 billion deal marks one of the largest media mergers in recent years. Skydance, originally known for producing films like Top Gun: Maverick and The Rings of Power, expands dramatically through the acquisition, gaining control of two of Hollywood's most storied studios. The merger follows regulatory approvals and a settlement Paramount reached with California and 11 other states earlier this week. The deal is on track to finalize on October 6, creating a streaming and content powerhouse positioned to compete with Netflix, Disney, and Amazon Prime Video. The rebrand signals Ellison's vision for the combined entity as a forward-looking production and distribution platform rather than a traditional studio system. By retiring century-old corporate names, Skydance positions itself as a unified operation while preserving the distinct market presence of its acquired brands and franchises.