May 8 (Reuters) - Paramount Global ( PARAA ) beat Wall

Street estimates for first-quarter revenue on Thursday, driven

by a growth in its direct-to-consumer and filmed entertainment

businesses.

The company's direct-to-consumer business, which includes

streaming platforms Paramount+, BET and PlutoTV, was

strengthened by its originals and post-theatrical releases such

as "Gladiator II".

The segment posted revenue of $2.04 billion, up 9% for the

first quarter ended March 31.

Sales for its filmed entertainment segment increased 4% to

$627 million.

Paramount and Skydance's "Mission Impossible - The Final

Reckoning", which may mark Tom Cruise's last appearance in the

long-running franchise, is expected to boost studio revenue in

the second quarter.

Skydance Media and Paramount's $8 billion merger deadline

was automatically extended by 90 days from April 7, under the

terms of the companies' agreement.

The company reported first-quarter revenue of $7.19 billion,

beating analysts' estimate of $7.09 billion, according to data

compiled by LSEG.

Paramount+, the company's flagship streaming platform, added

1.5 million subscribers during the quarter, below the estimate

of 1.66 million new subscribers, according to data from Visible

Alpha.