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Streaming Wars: Unscripted Content Dominates Merged Giants
8 May
Summary
- Merged HBO Max and Paramount+ could command 25.1% of unscripted demand.
- Unscripted content is key to making large streaming platform mergers viable.
- Top shows like The Voice and Survivor highlight unscripted's strong audience interest.
The prospective merger of HBO Max and Paramount+ is poised to dominate the unscripted television market, according to new research. This combination, which would unite over 200 million subscribers, is projected to hold a 25.1% share of demand for unscripted content in the first quarter of 2026. This significant market presence would place it ahead of other major streaming services.
Unscripted content, often overlooked in favor of scripted series, is highlighted as a critical component for the financial success of such large-scale streaming platform integrations. It provides a consistent bedrock of audience engagement that is essential for viability.
Audience interest in unscripted programming is substantial, as evidenced by top-performing shows. NBC's "The Voice" and CBS's "Survivor" have shown exceptionally high demand, significantly exceeding the average title. Reality series like "Summer House" also contribute to this strong market performance.
While neither HBO Max nor Paramount+ are traditionally heavy buyers of unscripted originals, their combined existing libraries and reliance on content from associated networks create a powerful offering. This includes a range of unscripted genres from reality competition to documentary series.
