Executives George Cheeks, Jim Gianopulos, Bruce Gillmer, Chris McCarthy, David Nevins, Nicole Clemens and Brian Robbins will all help the service amass originals in addition to leading their respective divisions.
ViacomCBS has announced an enhanced content leadership structure for its global streaming services. This newly aligned structure, which is effective immediately, will ensure that ViacomCBS is well-positioned to continue producing diverse content at scale and deploy the right mix of content across its ecosystem of free and pay streaming platforms.
As part of this, the new structure elevates each of ViacomCBS’ global content leaders to oversee their respective genres within Paramount+, while appointing Tanya Giles as a centralised programming head to chart content strategy for Paramount+ and Pluto TV globally.
Commenting on the development, Bob Bakish, President and CEO, ViacomCBS, said: “The strong launch and early months of Paramount+ have demonstrated the power and potential of our platform, as well as audiences’ appetite for a broad and diverse array of content, all in one place. The moves we are making today will accelerate that mission by putting ViacomCBS’ most powerful assets – world-class content, iconic brands, global infrastructure and expertise, and the best talent in the business today – behind our platforms as we pursue the global opportunity in streaming. Together, our leaders will ensure that we’re delivering to audiences the very best our streaming platforms have to offer, with must-watch content across every genre and market we operate in.”
Giles, currently General Manager of MTV Entertainment Group, will become Chief Programming Officer, Streaming. In this newly created role, she will oversee and execute a holistic programming strategy for the global content offering across both Paramount+ and Pluto TV, maximising mix, prioritisation, timing and impact of ViacomCBS resources, franchises and brands to drive sustained audience acquisition and engagement. She will report to Tom Ryan, President and CEO, ViacomCBS Streaming.
ViacomCBS will also formalise the genres its global content leaders will own for developing must-watch content for Paramount+ and its growing audiences around the world. In addition to their current roles overseeing their respective brand and studio businesses and continuing to report to Bakish, the executives will take on expanded global responsibilities for creating the diverse mix of content – from originals to extensions of key franchises – that differentiates Paramount+.
George Cheeks, President and Chief Executive Officer, CBS, will add chief content officer of news and sports at Paramount+. Paramount Pictures CEO Jim Gianopulos will now also add content chief of movies at the streamer. Bruce Gillmer, president of music, programming and events, will also have a content chief title for the same role at Paramount+.
Chris McCarthy, President, MTV Entertainment Group, adds the content title for unscripted and adult animation. David Nevins, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Showtime Networks, will relinquish his role with the broadcast network and now serve as chief content officer of scripted originals for Paramount+. With Nevins no longer hands-on at broadcaster CBS, network president Kelly Kahl and CBS Studios topper David Stapf will now report directly to Cheeks.
Paramount Television Studios president Nicole Clemens will continue to serve in the same capacity while also working alongside Nevins as president of original scripted content at Paramount+. Clemens will report to Nevins for Paramount+ and continue reporting to Gianopulos for PTVS. Brian Robbins, president of kids and family, will add content chief for the same area for the streamer.
As part of the realignment, Kelly Day, President of Streaming and Chief Operating Officer, ViacomCBS Networks International (VCNI), will work closely with Giles and ViacomCBS’ content leaders to ensure the company is executing against its global streaming strategy. She will be responsible for maximising the global content slate, bringing ViacomCBS’ expansive and growing international content portfolio to Paramount+ services around the world, and continuing the rollout of Paramount+ in international markets. Day will continue to report to Tom Ryan and Raffaele Annecchino, President and CEO of VCNI.
Scott Mills will continue to oversee BET+ in his capacity as President, BET, reporting to Nevins.
Tom Ryan added: “Tanya is a stellar media executive who brings a deep familiarity with our brands and audiences, as well as an unmatched talent for harnessing data to make high-impact programming decisions. Our content leaders know their genres better than anyone and have been integral to building a strong slate for Paramount+ and growing its audience. Our new structure will enable us to tap into their collective expertise even more effectively, further cementing Paramount+ as a true super service that delivers the content audiences love, all in one place.”
