Story perspectives

Paramount, Warner Bros. Deal Brings Potter Marathon to TV.

6/25/2026

Summary

Paramount Streams Potter

Paramount signed a deal with Warner Bros. Discovery to air eight Harry Potter and three Fantastic Beasts on MTV, Nickelodeon and Paramount Network.
MTV marathon runs July 3-5, 2026, followed by Paramount Network weeknights July 13-19 and Nick at Nite starting August 9 at 7 p.m. ET/PT.
After shareholders approved an $81 billion sale to Paramount and DOJ cleared it two weeks earlier, NBCUniversal’s $250 million contract keeps rights through 2025, with films staying on Peacock and HBO Max.

Summary

Paramount Licenses Potter

Paramount frames Harry Potter licensing as a move to compete with Netflix, Amazon and Apple.
Laurel Weir, head of programming and acquisitions for Paramount Media Networks, says the addition expands portfolio.
The deal aligns with 25th anniversary of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, whose first film earned over $7.7 billion, and adds HBO series for December 2026.
The $111 billion Paramount-Warner Bros. merger aims to reshape the company into a theatrical-news powerhouse amid competition.

History

Historical Context

In 2000 AOL merged with Time Warner in a $164 billion deal, giving AOL’s 55% shareholders control but failing to generate synergies and wiping out more than $200 billion in value. The collapse taught that sheer scale is insufficient, prompting the 2026 Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger to focus on multi-platform franchises and streaming competition with Netflix and Amazon.

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Paramount Streams Potter

Paramount signed a deal with Warner Bros. Discovery to air eight Harry Potter and three Fantastic Beasts on MTV, Nickelodeon and Paramount Network.
MTV marathon runs July 3-5, 2026, followed by Paramount Network weeknights July 13-19 and Nick at Nite starting August 9 at 7 p.m. ET/PT.
After shareholders approved an $81 billion sale to Paramount and DOJ cleared it two weeks earlier, NBCUniversal’s $250 million contract keeps rights through 2025, with films staying on Peacock and HBO Max.

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