David Ellison has put a name on the soon-to-merge Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery: Skydance.
The planned combination is set to close on Oct. 6, with Ellison serving as chairman and CEO of the new company. Paramount and Warner Bros. are expected to continue as sub-brands, while the corporate umbrella will carry the name of Ellison’s own studio, the company he founded 20 years ago.
What Skydance is now
Skydance is best known as the banner tied to Ellison’s film production company. Under the merger plan, that name becomes the corporate brand for a combined operation slated to include:
- Two major film studios: Paramount and Warner Bros.
- Two streaming platforms: HBO Max and Paramount+
- TV businesses including CBS, CNN, MTV, TBS, Comedy Central, Food Network and more
In other words, “Skydance” is set to sit on top of a wide set of legacy labels, services and networks, while Paramount and Warner Bros. continue operating as sub-brands.
Why this name
Ellison framed the naming choice as a way to honor the long histories of the two studios while giving the combined company its own corporate identity.
“Paramount and Warner Bros. shaped over a century of culture,” Ellison wrote.
He also emphasized that the studios and other brands will retain their identities under the larger corporate name.
“Both have distinct identities, extraordinary legacies and brands that have resonated with audiences for generations,” Ellison wrote. “We 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.”
What it includes
The merged franchise library is set to span Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones and other HBO hits, the DC Universe, Yellowstone, Mission: Impossible, Top Gun and the Nickelodeon kids’ empire.
On the streaming side, HBO Max and Paramount+ would be under the same corporate roof as part of the combined business.
Leadership plan
Skydance is slated to be led by chairman and CEO David Ellison alongside co-CEO Ynon Kreiz. Kreiz, the former Mattel chief, is set to join the company on Oct. 5, one day before the expected close.
Stock and ticker
The company plans to move its Class B Common Stock from Nasdaq to the New York Stock Exchange, where it will begin trading on Oct. 6. It intends to change the ticker symbol from “PSKY” to “SKYD”, and to amend its certificate of incorporation to rename the business Skydance Corporation.
What happens next
The main remaining step is the deal’s expected close on Oct. 6, when the combined company is set to begin operating under the Skydance corporate name, with Paramount and Warner Bros. continuing as sub-brands.
Quick answers
Is the merged company officially called Skydance now?
Ellison has announced “Skydance” as the name for the combined company, with the deal set to close on Oct. 6.
Are Paramount and Warner Bros. going away?
No. Ellison said Paramount and Warner Bros. will continue as sub-brands under the larger corporate brand.
What happens to the stock listing?
The company plans to move its Class B Common Stock from Nasdaq to the New York Stock Exchange on Oct. 6 and change the ticker from PSKY to SKYD.
