In a move that could make major changes to one of the most popular free streaming service Pluto TV. According to reports Paramount Global and its newly merged partner, Skydance Media, are reportedly considering combining their flagship streaming services, Paramount+ and Pluto TV, into a single, unified app according to Deadline. The announcement comes on the heels of the $8.4 billion Skydance-Paramount merger, finalized on August 7, 2025, which has positioned the newly formed Paramount, a Skydance Corporation, as a formidable player in the global media and entertainment sector.
During a press conference in New York just hours after the merger closed, Paramount CEO David Ellison underscored the company’s tech-forward vision, declaring, “We’re not going to be afraid of technology; we’re going to embrace it.” This mantra sets the stage for what could be a groundbreaking integration of Paramount+, a subscription-based service with 77.7 million subscribers, and Pluto TV, a free, ad-supported streaming television platform that pioneered the free model in 2014. Ellison indicated that a “soft merger” of the two platforms, unifying their technological infrastructure while maintaining distinct front-end identities, could occur within the next 12 to 18 months. After that though he did not rule out a full merger of the two apps.
The potential merger aims to address inefficiencies in Paramount’s current streaming operations, which Ellison described as running “three separate operating systems on multiple clouds, which is a combination of really ineffective and really inefficient.” By consolidating Paramount+ and Pluto TV onto a single tech stack, the company expects to streamline operations, reduce costs, and enhance user experience. Paramount’s Chief Operating Officer, Andy Gordon, emphasized that the user interfaces for both services, which have lagged behind industry leaders, will undergo significant overhauls to become “the best experience for the user as possible.”
For consumers, this could mean a seismic shift. Paramount+ subscribers might gain access to Pluto TV’s vast library of niche, channel-based content—ranging from classic TV to 24/7 crime shows—within a single app, potentially bolstering the platform’s appeal. However, Pluto TV’s free, ad-supported model could transition to a tiered structure, with some content folded into Paramount+’s paid tiers, possibly alienating users accustomed to free access. Industry analysts suggest that a cheaper, ad-supported tier could replace Pluto TV’s standalone service, aligning with Paramount’s goal to create a “powerful, profitable global platform.”
The move comes at a critical time as Paramount+ struggles to maintain subscriber growth, dropping from 79 million to 77.7 million in Q2 2025, while Pluto TV faces increasing competition from rivals like Tubi and the Roku Channel. By leveraging Skydance’s technological expertise and Paramount’s iconic IP—including franchises like Mission: Impossible and Star Trek—the merged entity aims to compete with Silicon Valley giants. Gerry Cardinale, founder of Skydance’s financial backer RedBird Capital, called this a “need to have moment in Hollywood,” emphasizing the necessity of blending technology and content to stay competitive.
While no final commitments have been made, the prospect of a unified Paramount+/Pluto TV app signals a strategic pivot toward a leaner, tech-driven future for Paramount. As the company navigates this transformation, industry watchers and consumers alike will be closely monitoring how this merger reshapes access to their favorite shows and movies.
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