Cable Channels at Risk After the Paramount–Warner Bros. Discovery Merger

Updated September 30, 2026

When two media giants merge, TV subscribers often end up asking the same question: will I lose any channels? Paramount's pending takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery puts CBS, MTV, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, BET, CNN, TNT, TBS, HBO, and Discovery's networks under one company. The settlement that cleared the way for the deal even names specific channels that could be sold.

Here's which channels are on that list, what "at risk" really means, and what it could mean for your cable, satellite, or live TV streaming lineup. Details are current as of September 30, 2026.

The quick version

• No channels are being shut down or sold right now. The merger hasn't closed, and the settlement doesn't force any immediate sale.
• The settlement names channels that could be sold later if the combined company breaks the rules for how it negotiates with TV providers.
• Those channels are: BET and its spinoff networks, VH1, Comedy Central, Smithsonian Channel, Destination America, and Science Channel.
• A sale isn't a shutdown. A channel sold to a new owner would usually keep airing.

Where the merger stands

On September 21, 2026, Paramount settled an antitrust lawsuit brought by 12 state attorneys general who had sued to block the deal. A federal judge still has to approve that settlement. On September 28, the companies and the states asked her to do so. Paramount expects the merger to close in early October, but the judge hasn't said when she'll rule.

Why the settlement names specific channels

One of the states' concerns was cable TV prices. Today, Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery each negotiate separately with cable, satellite, and streaming TV providers over what those providers pay to carry their channels. Put the two companies together, and they could bargain as one much larger group of channels.

To address that, the settlement requires the combined company to keep negotiating carriage deals for Paramount's and Warner Bros.' basic cable channels separately, as if they were still two companies, for five years. A compliance monitor and an outside trustee would oversee this. TV providers and others could report concerns without fear of retaliation.

If regulators find a serious violation that the company doesn't fix, the combined company would have to sell one or more channels from a named list. That list is the penalty. It isn't a plan to shut anything down.

The channels on the divestiture list

• BET and its spinoffs: BET Gospel, BET Her, BET Hip-Hop, BET Jams, and BET Soul
• VH1
• Comedy Central
• Smithsonian Channel
• Destination America
• Science Channel

Notably, MTV and Nickelodeon aren't on the list, and neither are the big Warner Bros. networks like CNN, TNT, and TBS. CBS stations aren't part of this basic cable list either.

Could some channels shut down anyway?

That's the harder question. The settlement governs how channels are sold to TV providers, and it names what could be sold as a penalty. As reported, it doesn't require the company to keep every cable network running.

Cable TV audiences have been shrinking for years, and the merged company will own several channels that overlap in comedy, reality, and nonfiction programming. Industry watchers expect it to look for savings. That could mean merging some networks, moving shows to streaming, or closing low-rated channels. No specific shutdowns have been announced, so for now any list of "doomed" channels is speculation.

One thing that is protected: under the settlement, the company must keep a free, ad-supported streaming service like Pluto TV going at current quality or better for five years.

What this could mean for your TV lineup

• Nothing changes overnight. Your provider's current carriage agreements stay in place after the merger closes until they expire or are renegotiated.
• Watch for carriage disputes. Blackouts can happen when a TV provider and a channel owner can't agree on a new deal. The settlement is meant to keep negotiations competitive, but disputes can still happen.
• If a channel is sold, it would likely keep airing under a new owner. Your provider would still need a carriage deal with that owner.
• If a channel closes, providers typically drop it from lineups. Some shows may move to streaming.

How to protect the channels you care about

• Make a short list. Write down the handful of channels your household actually watches. It makes comparing packages much easier.
• Check where the shows stream. Many cable shows also stream. Comedy Central's best-known show, South Park, has been reported as locked into a long-term Paramount+ deal.
• Keep local channels in mind. CBS and other broadcast networks are often free over the air with an antenna in many areas.
• Compare package types. Cable, satellite, fiber TV, and live TV streaming services all carry different channel mixes. If you only watch a few networks, a smaller package or a streaming service may cost less.
• Check your internet speed. If you're considering streaming live TV, you'll want a steady connection, especially with more than one TV.

Frequently asked questions

Is Comedy Central shutting down?

No shutdown has been announced. Comedy Central is on the settlement's list of channels that could be sold if the company breaks the carriage rules, but a sale would usually mean new ownership, not a closed channel.

Is BET being sold?

Not right now. BET and its spinoff networks are on the list of possible penalty sales, which would only come into play after a serious, uncured violation of the settlement.

Will I lose CNN, TNT, or TBS?

Those networks aren't on the settlement's divestiture list, and no changes have been announced. Your access depends on your TV provider's carriage agreement.

Will my cable bill go up because of the merger?

No price changes tied to the merger have been announced. The settlement's separate-negotiation rule is meant to help keep carriage costs competitive, but TV prices often rise year to year regardless.

When does the merger close?

Paramount expects early October 2026, once a federal judge approves its settlement with the states.