Paramount Skydance lifts its 2026 profit outlook to as much as $3.9 billion as Paramount+ reaches 81.6 million subscribers

The US media company Paramount Skydance raised its full year profit guidance on Tuesday 4 August 2026. It lifted its 2026 adjusted EBITDA forecast to between $3.8 billion and $3.9 billion while keeping its revenue outlook at $30 billion, representing annual growth of about 4%. Streaming growth and merger related savings offset weakness in the traditional television business.

Second quarter revenue totalled $6.91 billion, slightly above the market expectation of $6.88 billion. Net earnings fell to $41 million, or 4 cents per share, from $57 million, or 8 cents per share, a year earlier. Direct to consumer revenue, including Paramount+, BET+ and Pluto TV, rose 9% to $2.47 billion, and Paramount+ added 2 million subscribers to reach a global base of 81.6 million. Film studio revenue rose 16% to $1.31 billion, while TV media revenue fell 9% to $3.13 billion.

Chief Executive David Ellison said the company remains confident that its proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery will be completed despite an antitrust lawsuit filed by a group of US states. The closing deadline has been extended to as late as June 2027, and the lawsuit is scheduled to go to trial in March 2027. The deal has already been cleared by the Justice Department's antitrust division and by regulators in several other jurisdictions, including Europe.