1 month ago
Paramount met astir of Wall Street’s expectations successful nan first quarter, though gains astatine flagship streamer Paramount+ fell somewhat short.
The institution reported full gross of $7.347 cardinal successful nan January-to-March period, somewhat up of nan statement outlook by analysts for $7.28 billion. Earnings per stock matched nan estimate of 15 cents.
While it is poised to go a overmuch larger subordinate successful nan media business via a pending merger pinch Warner Bros. Discovery, Paramount is besides still caller disconnected its merger pinch Skydance past August. The quarterly numbers are being compared pinch nan 2 companies’ mixed numbers connected a pro-forma basis.
Direct-to-consumer gross accrued 11% from nan aforesaid play a twelvemonth ago, reaching $2.4 billion. Paramount+ added 700,000 subscribers to scope 79.6 million, missing analysts’ target of 1 cardinal caller subscribers contempt nan company’s splashy authorities woody pinch nan UFC taking effect during nan quarter. After a semipermanent woody pinch Disney for pay-per-view events expired, UFC bouts shifted to Paramount+, disposable to each subscribers without an other fee.
In their quarterly missive to shareholders, Paramount executives said they “continue to expect accelerating DTC gross and profit successful 2026.”
The study is Paramount’s first since it prevailed complete Netflix successful a months-long conflict for Warner Bros. Discovery. The institution has said its $110 cardinal woody to get WBD will adjacent by nan extremity of September.
In nan letter, nan institution noted that portions of 2 UFC events person aired connected CBS. To date, complete 10 cardinal households person watched much than 100 cardinal hours of UFC programming connected our service—delivering viewership much than 15x nan mean pay-per-view arena complete nan past 2 years. Notably, caller UFC subscribers are 15 years younger than nan mean Paramount+ viewer—and they’re engaging pinch nan work beyond conscionable UFC, taking afloat advantage of our broader offering of films and bid for illustration South Park.
In nan letter, nan institution noted that “portions of 2 UFC events” person aired connected CBS. “To date, complete 10 cardinal households person watched much than 100 cardinal hours of UFC programming connected our service—delivering viewership much than 15x nan mean pay-per-view arena complete nan past 2 years,” nan missive said. “Notably, caller UFC subscribers are 15 years younger than nan mean Paramount+ viewer—and they’re engaging pinch nan work beyond conscionable UFC, taking afloat advantage of our broader offering of films and bid for illustration South Park.
During nan company’s quarterly telephone pinch analysts, executives are expected to section a scope of questions. Topics are apt to see NFL authorities negotiations, theatrical movie windows and nan authorities of CBS News, successful summation to forward-looking matters for illustration nan integration of Paramount+ and HBO Max and plans to merchandise 30 films a twelvemonth crossed Warner and Paramount.
Paramount shares person dropped 17% successful 2026 to date. They vanished nan time up a fraction astatine $11.16.
