Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery Merger Closes Oct. 6: What It Means for CBS, CNN, TNT, HBO Max and Paramount+ Viewers
The last legal roadblock is gone. On Wednesday, September 30, 2026, a federal judge in California approved the settlement that let Paramount Skydance go ahead with its purchase of Warner Bros. Discovery. That evening the two companies announced they expect the merger to close on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, subject to customary closing conditions.
The deal puts CBS, CNN, TNT, TBS, HBO, HBO Max, Paramount+, Nickelodeon, MTV, Comedy Central and dozens of other networks under one company. If you watch any of them through DIRECTV, cable or a streaming app, here is what changes now, what comes later and what you can ignore.
What happened this week?
A group of 12 states led by California sued in July to block the deal, arguing it would hurt competition in movie distribution and in the licensing of basic cable channels to TV providers. A court order kept the companies from closing while that case was pending. The U.S. Justice Department had already cleared the deal.
On September 30, U.S. District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín entered a five-year consent decree that settles the states' case and lifted the order that had blocked closing. Hours later, Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery set October 6 as the expected closing date. Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders are being paid in cash, about $31 per share.
Will anything change for viewers on October 6?
Not right away. A merger changes who owns the networks and apps. It doesn't flip a switch on your TV. Neither company has announced any day-one changes to channel lineups, app logins or subscription prices. Your channels should stay where they are, HBO Max and Paramount+ keep working as separate apps and your bills should look the same until a company tells you otherwise.
What happens to HBO Max and Paramount+?
The big change is coming later. Paramount has said it plans to combine HBO Max and Paramount+ into one streaming service, which would start with more than 200 million subscribers between them. Paramount CEO David Ellison has also said the HBO brand will stay, telling investors that "HBO should stay HBO."
What hasn't been announced: the combined service's name, its price, its plans or a launch date. Until those details arrive, keep paying for whichever service you use and watch for emails from HBO Max or Paramount+. Neither app is going away on closing day.
For background on how the two services stack up, see our guides to the Paramount+ and HBO Max merger and whether you'll need both subscriptions when the apps merge.
What it means for DIRECTV customers
For DIRECTV customers, the most important part of the settlement deals with channel carriage. For five years, the consent decree requires the combined company to:
- Negotiate separately for the Paramount basic cable channels and the Warner Bros. basic cable channels when it signs carriage deals with a TV provider
- Not tie one deal to the other, so terms for one group of channels can't be made a condition of the other group
- Keep existing renewal schedules for those channel contracts unless the TV provider asks in writing to change them
- Keep confidential fee information walled off between the two sides during those talks
In plain terms, the merger alone isn't supposed to turn all of these cable networks into one all-or-nothing negotiation with your TV provider. Two limits to know: those rules cover basic cable channels only, not broadcast stations like CBS, premium channels like HBO or streaming services, and a TV provider can choose to negotiate both groups together.
Here is where the biggest networks from both companies sit on DIRECTV today:
| Network | Comes from | DIRECTV channel |
|---|---|---|
| CBS | Paramount | Your local CBS station (number varies by market) |
| CNN | Warner Bros. Discovery | 202 |
| TNT | Warner Bros. Discovery | 245 |
| truTV | Warner Bros. Discovery | 246 |
| TBS | Warner Bros. Discovery | 247 |
| Comedy Central | Paramount | 249 |
| Nickelodeon | Paramount | 299 |
| BET | Paramount | 329 |
| MTV | Paramount | 331 |
| HBO | Warner Bros. Discovery | 501 and up (with HBO Max) |
| Paramount+ with SHOWTIME | Paramount | 545 |
Not sure which station carries CBS where you live? Our guide to what channel CBS is in your area can help. For TNT specifically, see what channel TNT is on DIRECTV.
If you get HBO Max through DIRECTV, nothing about that changes at closing. DIRECTV's HBO Max Standard plan gives you the HBO channels in your guide, HBO On Demand and the HBO Max app, and it's included with the Signature PREMIER package or available as an add-on. Our guide to HBO Max on DIRECTV explains how to sign in. Paramount+ works differently. See why Paramount+ may not show up on DIRECTV.
Want CBS, CNN, TNT and HBO in one guide with one bill? Call American TV at 1-855-690-9884 to compare DIRECTV packages at your address.
The merger at a glance
| Question | Short answer |
|---|---|
| When does it close? | Expected Tuesday, October 6, 2026 |
| What cleared it? | A judge approved the states' settlement on September 30, 2026 |
| Do my channels change on closing day? | No changes have been announced |
| Are HBO Max and Paramount+ merging? | Planned, but no name, price or date announced yet |
| How long do the carriage rules last? | Five years |
| Do I need to do anything? | No |
Should you change anything?
No action is needed. A few smart moves while the details shake out:
- Don't cancel early. If you pay for both HBO Max and Paramount+, keep the one you watch until the combined service is priced. Then decide.
- Check where you pay. If HBO Max comes through DIRECTV or another provider, any future changes should come through that provider's billing.
- Watch your inbox. Official notices about plan or app changes will come from the streaming service or your TV provider.
Questions about how these networks fit into a DIRECTV package? Call 1-855-690-9884.
Frequently asked questions
When does the Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger close?
The companies expect it to close on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, subject to customary closing conditions.
Will CNN, TNT or CBS change channels on DIRECTV?
No channel changes have been announced. CNN is on channel 202, TNT on 245 and TBS on 247, and CBS is on your local CBS station.
Are HBO Max and Paramount+ combining?
Paramount plans to combine them into one streaming service, but it hasn't announced a name, price or launch date. Both apps keep working for now.
Does the merger affect my DIRECTV bill?
Nothing announced so far changes DIRECTV pricing. Under the settlement, the Paramount and Warner Bros. basic cable channels must be negotiated separately with TV providers for five years.
Do I need to do anything before October 6?
No. Your channels, apps and subscriptions continue as usual.
Comparing TV options? Call 1-855-690-9884.
Details reviewed October 1, 2026. Closing timing is the companies' expectation and may change. Channel numbers, packages and availability are set by DIRECTV, vary by location and may change. Paramount+, HBO Max, CBS, CNN, TNT, DIRECTV and related marks belong to their respective owners. American TV is an independent dealer and resource site.