Following the acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, Skydance is focusing the merged group on cost-cutting and closer integration of its streaming services. The aim is to achieve annual savings of more than six billion dollars within three years. A voluntary redundancy scheme is one of the measures being implemented as part of the integration process.

CEOs David Ellison and Ynon Kreiz have announced individual redundancy packages for eligible employees. It is not yet clear how many jobs will actually be lost. In addition, a group-wide requirement to work five days a week in the office is to be introduced gradually.

Responsibilities are also being reorganised within the streaming business. Casey Bloys, Co-Chairman and Chief Content Officer of Skydance DTC, has introduced his leadership team. Glenn Whitehead will take on the role of President and COO, overseeing Business Affairs, Production and Operations for HBO and Paramount+. Sarah Aubrey will take charge of Paramount+, Max Originals and international programming. Jane Wiseman, previously Head of Originals at Paramount+, is leaving the company.

HBO Max and Paramount+ are initially to be offered as a bundle comprising separate services. In the medium term, the plan is to merge them into a single platform. In doing so, Skydance is combining organisational integration with a reorientation of its streaming business. A key factor for the market will be whether this bundling reduces costs and strengthens the company’s competitive position against other major streaming providers.