Paramount has officially secured the new linear television rights to the Harry Potter franchise.
According to Deadline, the company announced on June 26 that it has signed a multi-year licensing agreement with Warner Bros. Discovery for the exclusive linear rights to all eight Harry Potter films and the three Fantastic Beasts movies. Beginning July 3, the films will air across Paramount’s cable networks, including MTV, Nickelodeon, Nick at Nite, and Paramount Network.
Richard Harris as Dumbledore in Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone – Max
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Making the timing of the deal especially significant is the fact that it arrives against the backdrop of the two formerly rival studios preparing to combine under the same corporate umbrella.
Paramount Acquires Linear Rights to the Wizarding World
The agreement marks a significant shift for one of Hollywood’s most valuable film franchises. NBCUniversal previously held the linear television rights to the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts films under a deal that took effect in 2018 and ran through April 2025.
Under the new arrangement, NBCUniversal will retain co-exclusive streaming rights alongside HBO Max, but Paramount now controls where the films will air on traditional television.
Paramount rolled out will begin with a four-day marathon spanning the Independence Day weekend. The programming schedule included back-to-back airings of the Harry Potter films across multiple Paramount channels, with select movies also appearing on Nickelodeon and Nick at Nite.
The Deal Comes as Paramount and Warner Prepare to Merge
The deal arrives at an especially interesting moment for both companies. Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery are currently moving toward the completion of their proposed $111 billion merger. The transaction received approval from the U.S. Department of Justice early last month, despite vocal opposition from numerous actors, writers, and industry professionals.
Logos for Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. – Paramount, WB
Dame Emma Thompson, who played the eccentric Divination professor Sybill Trelawney, was among the more than 1,000 Hollywood figures to sign an open letter calling for legal action to block the merger.
Regardless, the merger is expected to close later this year. For Paramount, securing the rights to Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts adds another major franchise to its growing library of acquired content—which is about to become significantly more expansive. In that sense, the acquisition of the linear broadcast rights feels almost symbolic of the broader changes to come.
HBO Continues to Invest in Harry Potter’s Future
The timing is also notable given Warner Bros.’ continued investment in the franchise. HBO is currently developing a new Harry Potter television series that will adapt J.K. Rowling’s seven novels over the course of multiple seasons. The project is expected to serve as a cornerstone of HBO Max’s long-term content strategy.
A screenshot of Harry at the Hogwarts Quidditch Pitch in HBO’s Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone trailer – YouTube @hbomax
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Ultimately, the Wizarding World remains one of the most commercially successful entertainment brands in history, with the eleven films collectively grossing more than $9.6 billion at the global box office. As anticipation for the HBO series continues to grow, audiences may return to the original films while they wait. For many viewers, Harry Potter marathons have become a tradition during holidays and school breaks.
Whether the new licensing agreement is simply a content acquisition or an early glimpse of how Paramount and Warner Bros. properties may be integrated following their proposed merger remains unclear. Either way, Harry Potter has found a new home on linear television, and Paramount is betting that audiences are still eager to return to Hogwarts.
Will you be watching Harry Potter on a Paramount channel? Let us know in the comments!
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