What Could We Expect with the "New Paramount", What Should Be Changed and What Will It Be Called

Even though it is still pending regulatory approvals from many different government offices, including international government approvals, we can still assume 2025 will be one of the most important years in Paramount’s history for two reasons.

One of them is South Park moving from its current library streaming home on Max (nee HBO Max) to its new global home on Paramount+. It will also be one of the few series Paramount+ can call the official global streaming home, the other being SpongeBob SquarePants since Yellowstone is still exclusive to Peacock in the US.

The other big event will be finalizing the Paramount Global and Skydance Media merger, ending the over 40 years of family control of the Redstone family and transitioning control to the Ellison family, one of the wealthiest families in the world.

Combining the money and growth of the many Skydance studios with the legacy and library of Paramount, New Paramount As David Ellison will soon take on his new role as Chairman and CEO of the New Paramount alongside soon-to-be President, Jeff Shell, he’ll have to make some of the much necessary changes to better fit the company to the future. There are many things they should do while I highlight on this page.

What We Know So Far?

CBS and MTV Leadership Consolidation

If you asked Les Moonves 20 years ago that he had to run the MTV Networks as well as CBS and UPN (remember that?), he would have called you insane considering how much damage a halftime performance MTV produced caused CBS in that year’s Super Bowl and leadership disagreements with Tom Freston. Even 10 years later, when CBS and Viacom had early talks to get back together, Moonves quickly dismissed any reunion and later called the Viacom networks an “albatross.”

But things have changed. The whole media landscape has changed since that initial comment, and CBS and the Paramount Media Networks are more synergized than ever before. However, the leadership team has remained separate.

George Cheeks, current CEO of CBS and ⅓ of the CEOs at Paramount Global, is set to stay at “New Paramount” for a role in a united CBS-MTV subsidiary. Words on Chris McCarthy’s involvement are still unknown.

A New Leader For Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon

While Cheeks will stay and McCarthy’s role still being questioned, Bloomberg reports that Brian Robbins would leave Paramount and Nickelodeon before the deal closes. Dana Goldberg is said to lead the studio for the time being. No words if Cheeks would assume control over Nickelodeon or if the current leader of the animated studio, Ramsey Naito, could take over after Robbins’ departure. It’s unlikely for John Lasseter to lead Nickelodeon, but if Naito takes over for Robbins, Lasseter could take over the animated studio alongside Paramount/Skydance Animation.

Reinvigorate Paramount+

Paramount+ isn’t well-regarded by some in the industry. Despite having 72 million subscribers and being placed 4th in the global SVOD ranking, it’s still seen as too small to compete alongside Max and Peacock. Paramount has talked to both owners of those streamers about a partnership. 

Ellison is said to switch up the user experience on Paramount+ and improve its recommendation algorithms. It will be interesting how much of the UX will change as it has been the same since 2019, with its predecessor, CBS All Access, and even the CBS digital platforms today using the same interface as Paramount+. 

Ellison is also said to bring Cindy Holland to lead Paramount+ and is less likely to pursue partnerships.

Pluto TV’s Integration

I mentioned Pluto TV earlier this year when Paramount’s future was in question after Shari Redstone’s brief pause in negotiation, so I’ll keep it short here. Ellison wants to integrate much of Pluto TV into Paramount+, which is a good strategy. Ellison and co. need to keep Pluto TV actively competitive as the competition is going after its market share in FAST.

What Should Be Changed?

Merge CBS Studios and Skydance Television, Return of Paramount Television

Even though Paramount Television Studios shut down earlier this year, the library or its predecessor hasn’t. CBS Studios was technically the old “Paramount Television” when CBS split from Viacom in 2006.

If the merger closes, Ellison should consider consolidating Skydance Television into CBS Studios and then return the studio name to Paramount Television. Oversight could still be part of the new CBS-MTV subsidiary if he wants George Cheeks to continue to be involved.

Shut Down CBS Sports Network and Push Sporting Content to Paramount Network

Did you know Paramount also had CBS Sports Network? It’s not your fault if you don’t. CBS Sports Network is CBS Sports’ supposed secondary network for collegiate sporting events, UEFA Champions League and Europa Champions League, and sports shows. But when you think about it, have you ever seen ratings for this network? It is not recorded in Nielsen ratings despite every other network allowing it (minus a few others).

Out of all the general entertainment networks Paramount operates, Paramount Network is not 100% genre-centric like the rest. MTV is reality and music-based, Comedy Central is comedy-based, TV Land is mostly classics, etc. Considering how Warner Bros. Discovery turned truTV into a partial sports network, similar to its TNT, New Paramount should do the same with Paramount Network to help its ratings outside Yellowstone season.

They should move all its sporting programs to the network and move the talk shows split between CBS Sports HQ (a FAST channel available on Paramount+ and Pluto TV) and YouTube. Or revamp those shows into a podcast. The podcasting industry is booming, so they should get in before it’s too late.

Sell BET Media Group and the Smithsonian Channel; Shutter the “Miscellaneous” Networks

Under Ellison’s pursuit, reports stated he would be willing to sell off networks for a decent asking price. BET has been in multiple sale talks over the past two years. Many discussions with different leaders, although none have gone through. Ellison will probably try to ramp up negotiations and sell BET Media Group. Considering that BET has been running separately on its own by allowing its own separate streaming service and moving VH1 over to its pursuit, it makes sense for a sale.

Another network that could be for sale is the Smithsonian Channel. Paramount launched Paramount+ as Smithsonian Channel, one of the pipeline channels featured on the platform. However, as the years went on, most of the focus shifted away from Smithsonian Channel’s liking. Most of the promotions for documentary fares are from CBS News, despite the existence of the Smithsonian Channel. I can see SpinCo, an upcoming cable network company spinning off from NBCUniversal, picking up this network. Not only that, TV Land and CMT could also be sold to SpinCo.

While they plan their network sales, they should also consider shutting down some of the other “miscellaneous” networks. In the year 2024, Paramount is still running eight music channels. Four MTV-branded, three BET-branded, and one Nickelodeon-branded music networks. If these networks transitioned into FAST channels, it would make sense to continue running them. If not, why are they still funding these networks with new music?

What Will We Ultimately Call It?

Of course, “New Paramount” is just a temporary promotional name. But what will David Ellison run this empire as?

According to its legal corporate name, “New Pluto Global, Inc.” is a subsidiary of Paramount Global that will assume all assets of its parent company and Skydance. It's a good possibility that Pluto could be the name of the unionized company.

Ellison could go with an original name, but it’s unlikely for him to do that. A combination of Paramount and Skydance sounds off too.

The return to the Viacom name is also 100% unlikely. Almost all references to Viacom are obsolete and are still only used as a company for its cable network trademarks. Shari had her reasons for getting rid of the Viacom name, so why should Ellison return to it?

But those are my thoughts, and I would like to hear yours. How do you think David Ellison should run New Paramount?

Credits to Lucas Shaw at Bloomberg for the finds.