Paramount Restructures After Skydance Acquisition
Following Skydance’s acquisition, Paramount is undergoing significant changes in its scripted production operations. The tasks previously managed by Chris McCarthy, who is stepping down as co-CEO of Paramount Global, are merging into the new Paramount TV Studios, led by Dana Goldberg, Co-Chair of Paramount Pictures and Chair of Paramount Television. Matt Thunell, President of Skydance TV, is expected to run these operations.
South Park’s Unique Position
However, ‘South Park’ stands out in this transition. The iconic animated series, produced by South Park Digital Studios—a venture co-owned by Paramount and creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone—will now fall under the oversight of George Cheeks. Cheeks has recently been appointed Chair of TV Media at the reorganized Paramount.
Transition and Important Deals
During his tenure, McCarthy spearheaded various projects, including the recent five-year overall agreement with Parker and Stone and a separate five-year licensing deal granting Paramount+ exclusive rights to ‘South Park’ for $1.5 billion.
Cheeks’ New Responsibilities
As Chair of TV Media, Cheeks will manage a wide array of Paramount’s television businesses, covering:
- The CBS Network
- CBS News & Stations
- CBS Sports
- CBS Studios
- BET Studios
- Nickelodeon TV Studios
- See It Now Studios
- Paramount Media Networks, which includes MTV, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, and BET
Distinction Between Streaming and Linear Productions
The division in scripted TV production reflects Paramount’s strategy based on distribution platforms. While Cheeks’ teams focus on linear network productions, Goldberg’s group will primarily create content for streaming services. Although ‘South Park’ thrives on streaming platforms, its original airs on Comedy Central, thus aligning it under Cheeks’ domain to unify its network and production oversight.
Focus on Political Commentary
In addition to ‘South Park’, Cheeks will also manage ‘The Daily Show’ on Comedy Central, known for its satirical commentary on politics, particularly President Donald Trump. He continues to oversee ‘The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’, which has similarly critiqued the President and CBS News, which was embroiled in a recent lawsuit with Trump that led to a controversial settlement. This adds to the complexity of his role amidst the Skydance merger approval.
For further insights on the management changes post-Skydance merger at Paramount, read Deadline’s full coverage.
